The Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, also known as the Florence Cathedral, features a remarkable double-shell dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. This dome is one of the greatest engineering feats of the Renaissance.
The double-shell design consists of two layers of masonry, with the inner shell supporting the dome’s structure and the outer shell serving as a decorative covering. This innovative approach allowed the dome to be built without the need for scaffolding, which was previously thought to be impossible for such a large span.
The design of the dome is a key feature of the cathedral and a symbol of Renaissance engineering and architecture. It helped to inspire future architectural developments in dome construction.