Welcome to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance. Let the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore transport you through time. More than just a church, this Gothic structure, with its red-tiled dome, is steeped in centuries of history. Built over an older cathedral, construction began in 1296 under the supervision of architect Arnolfo di Cambio. Italian architect Filippo Brunelleschi engineered its dome, the largest brick dome ever constructed. Its completion in 1436 was the final stage of the cathedral"s construction. It"s not just the outside that dazzles; inside there are artistic treasures to discover, from Giorgio Vasari"s fresco "The Last Judgment" to Paolo Uccello"s intricate clock face. The cathedral complex is also home to the Baptistery, a small basilica, and Giotto"s Campanile, a free-standing bell tower.
Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
Today in History
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In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
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The roots of invention
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Looking for peace on the precipice
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Bathing in the light of Pride
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Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France
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Sedona, Arizona
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Splendid leaf frog
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Driftwood on Boneyard Beach, Hunting Island, South Carolina
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Our Lady of the Rocks
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Mute swans
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Happy Fathers Day!
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Formal garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
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A path lain with petals
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Merry Christmas!
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Celebrating Chile’s Independence Day
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Star Wars Day
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New Zealand s loneliest mountain
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Migrating wildebeest crossing Mara River in Masai Mara, Kenya
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The wild heart of Tasmania
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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Hiding in plain sight
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Wild garlic in bloom at Hainich National Park, Germany
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Lake Bled, Slovenia
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Bluebells in Hertfordshire, England
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Here’s looking at you, teachers
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GOAL!
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It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
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Celtic Colours International Festival, Canada
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A star is borne by seaweed
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National Trails Day
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Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
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Kings Mountain, Chugach Mountains, Alaska
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A medieval Moorish gem
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Frost-covered dunes on Mars
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The Vestibule at Diocletian s Palace, Split, Croatia
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Moving as one
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Midnight sun
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Sunbeams across Tartu County, Estonia
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

