About Brunelleschi’s Dome

Filippo Brunelleschi’s red-tiled dome on the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, built between 1420 and 1436, remains a landmark of Renaissance innovation and the largest masonry dome ever constructed.

A Clever Competition and Swift Success

When Florence held a competition to design the cathedral’s dome, Brunelleschi won with a clever demonstration. He challenged judges to balance an egg upright; when they failed, he cracked its base and made it stand, proving simple ideas can solve big problems. His creativity secured the project, and he completed the dome in sixteen years.

Brunelleschi’s Engineering Breakthrough

When building a huge dome without wooden scaffolding seemed impossible, Brunelleschi invented a new method using ropes to guide bricks and a herringbone pattern to lock them together. His flower-shaped base and curved supports created a self-supporting structure that still impresses engineers today.