Il Duomo: Brunelleschi and the Dawn of Renaissance Architecture

The video explores the history and construction of the Florence Cathedral's dome, known as Il Duomo. Initially designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, the project faced challenges due to the collapse of the original dome model. A contest in 1366 led to a winning design by Mary di Fiorvanti, proposing a double dome structure. By 1418, the cathedral still lacked a dome, prompting another contest won by Filippo Brunelleschi. He introduced innovative techniques, such as the gear shift and herringbone brick pattern, to construct the dome without scaffolding. The completed dome remains the largest brick and mortar dome in the world, influencing future architectural works like Michelangelo's St. Peter's and Wren's St. Paul's.

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