Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower (Italian: Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore), known also as Duomo, is the main church of Florence. Its red dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi dominates over the city landscape and crowns the temple at the height of over 100 meters. Next to the church there is also an 85-meter bell tower, from which visitors may admire a beautiful view of the city. The basilica used to be the most important building of that type in the whole world and even today its monumental architecture hits tourists as a thunderbolt. The cathedral was consecrated in 1436 by Pope Eugene IV. The neo-Gothic façade of the building is the result of the renovation that took place in the 19th century.
