Florence Timeline
To put its many wonderful buildings into context, below is a timeline of major events in the history of Florence. This is not intended to be a comprehensive timeline and will gradually be expanded.
| 59 BC | After the conquest of the Etruscans, a Roman military settlement called Florentia is founded on the Arno River. |
| 100s AD | Roman Florence attains significant economic status. |
| 250 | St. Minias (San Miniato) is martyred in Florence and buried on the hill now occupied by San Miniato al Monte church. |
| c.300? | The first church in Florence, Santa Felicita, is founded outside the city walls. |
| 313 | The "Edict of Milan," signed by Constantine and his co-emperor Galerius, legalizes Christianity in the Roman Empire. |
| 313 | Bishop Felice is recorded as coming to Florentia for a synod. |
| c.390 | Construction on the second church in Florence, San Lorenzo, beings near the junction between Via Faentina and Via Cassia. |
| 391 | Emperor Theodosius outlaws pagan cults and makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire. |
| 393 | San Lorenzo is consecrated by the great St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. |
| 400s | Construction of Santa Reparata, remains of which can still be seen beneath the Duomo. |
| 400s | Florence gets a bishop and San Lorenzo is raised to the status of a cathedral. |
| 552-68 | Byzantine occupation of Florence |
| 700s | Construction of the Baptistery of San Giovanni and probably the addition of Santa Reparata's mosaic pavement. |
| 854 | Union of the territories of Fiesole and Florence. Florence begins to flourish again. |
| 1013 | Construction on the present church of San Miniato al Monte begun under Bishop Alibrando, endowed by the Emperor Henry II. |
| 1059-61 | The former bishop of Florence serves as Pope Nicholas II. The pope spends more time in Florence than in Rome, embellishing its churches and bringing greater prestige to the city. |
| 1100s | Santa Reparata becomes the cathedral of Florence instead of San Lorenzo. |
| 1115 | The city of Pisa donates two porphyry pillars to Florence in thanks for the latter's help in the battle of the Balearic Islands against the Muslims. The columns can be seen next to the east door of the Baptistery. |
| 1125 | The fall of Fiesole solidifies the power of Guelph Florence. |
| 1294 | The commune of Florence decides to build a new cathedral to replace the ancient Santa Reparata, to be named Santa Maria del Fiore. |
| c.1294 | Construction begins on the Franciscan church of Santa Croce under the leadership of Arnolfo di Cambio, the Commune's official architect. |
| 1296-1301 | Construction on the Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore begins under Arnolfo di Cambio. |
| 1301-31 | After Arnolfo's death in 1301, work on the cathedral comes to a halt for 30 years. |
| 1331 | (January) The body of St. Zenobius, bishop of Florence 376-407, is found in Santa Reparata. A silver reliquary is made by Filippo Arditi for the skull; the rest of the bones are replaced in the original tomb. The reliquary can still be seen in the Duomo. |
| (October 2) The Commune of Florence entrusts the cathedral building project to the Wool Merchant's Guild. | |
| 1333-37 | Giotto is the master architect. |
| 1337 | (January 8) Death of Giotto. He is buried in the new cathedral. |
| 1337-43 | Andrea Pisano is the master architect. He works primarily on the campanile begun by Giotto, bringing it up to the fourth level. |
| 1343 | Andrea Pisano is expelled from Florence after the fall of the Duke of Athens. He may have regained his position as architect in 1348, but historians are divided on the matter. |
| 1350 | Andrea Pisano dies. Francesco Talenti is the new master architect. |
| 1355 | Talenti proposes a new plan for the cathedral, including increasing the arch of the bays and reducing their number to three. |
| 1357 | (June 19) Talenti's plans are approved. |
| 1359 | (March 29) The campanile is completed. |
| 1364 | Talenti is replaced by Giovanni di Lapo Ghini. The first two bays of the cathedral have been completed. |
| 1366 | Talenti returns to work alongside Ghini. |
| 1367 | (November 19) A commission of artists approves the final plans for the cathedral's nave, aisles and apse, which include adding a fourth bay to the nave. |
| 1373 | San Miniato al Monte given to the Olivetans, who still run it today. |
| 1375 | Demolition of the last part of Santa Reparata still standing. |
| 1378 | Nave vault completed. |
| 1380 | Side aisles completed. |
| (June 8) Florence confiscates the Alpe del Corniolo forest from the Guidi di Modigliana counts and donates it to the cathedral building project to ensure a regular supply of timber. | |
| 1394-96 | Stained glass windows installed in the nave and aisles. They are made by Leonardo di Simone, Piero di Niccolò Tedesco and Antonio da Pisa. |
| 1420-36 | Construction of Brunelleschi's famous dome, the largest and highest in the world at the time. |
| 1404-05 | Lorenzo Ghiberti designs the stainedglass window for the central oculus on the west facade. |
| 1404-08 | Niccolò di Piero Lamberti, Donatello and Nanni di Banco sculpt statues for the Porta della Mandorla. |
| 1408-15 | Statues of the Evangelists are made for the west facade by Nanni di Banco, Donatello, Niccolò di Piero Lamberti and Bernardo Ciuffagni. |
| 1412-15 | Lorenzo Ghiberti, with the assistance of Niccolò di Piero, creates stained glass windows for the two smaller oculi in the facade. |
| c.1418-20 | The north portal of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Porta della Mandorla, is completed with the addition of the Assumption of the Virgin tympanum by Nanni di Banco. |
| 1415-36 | Eight statues of prophets and patriarchs for the north side (in 1464 moved to the west side) and the east side of the third order of the bell tower, realized by Donatello and Nanni di Bartolo il Rosso. |
| 1418 | (August 20) The Opera di S. Maria del Fiore announces a competition for the cathedral dome. |
| 1419 | Giovanni di Bicci de Medici finances a new church to replace the Romanesque San Lorenzo. Brunelleschi was commissioned to design it. |
| 1420 | (August 7) The winner of the competition, Filippo Brunelleschi, begins work on the dome. |
| 1429-44 | Lorenzo Ghiberti and others create the 15 stained-glass windows of the clerestory and the 15 of the chapels. |
| 1431-38 | Marble panels of the cantoria ("singing gallery") sculpted by Luca della Robbia. The cantoria is now in the Opera del Duomo museum. |
| 1431-42 | Lorenzo Ghiberti creates the Ark of Saint Zenobius for the relics of the saint buried in Santa Reparata. |
| 1432 | Filippo Brunelleschi is commissioned to build the new residence of the cathedral works (Opera del Duomo) behind the cathedral. |
| 1432-48 | Matteo da Prato builds the organ for the cantoria by Luca della Robbia. |
| 1433-39 | Donatello creates a second cantoria. It is also in the Opera del Duomo museum. |
| 1433-45 | Creation of the of the eight stained glass windows in the cupola, designed by Donatello, Ghiberti, Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno. |
| 1434 | Cosimo de Medici returns to to Florence from a year in exile, becoming the leading citizen of the commune. |
| 1436 | (March 25) Pope Eugene IV consecrates the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. |
| (August 30) The cupola is sealed. | |
| (exact date unknown) Fresco for the equestrian monument to Sir John Hawkwood painted by Paolo Uccello. | |
| (December 31) Brunelleschi’s proposed model for the lantern is approved. | |
| 1436-45 | Inlaid wooden paneling of the side walls of the Sagrestia delle Messe by Agnolo di Lazzero, Antonio Manetti, and respective collaborators. |
| 1437-39 | Luca della Robbia creates five hexagonal panels for the lower order of the north side of the bell tower. |
| 1439 | (March 2) The Duomo hosts the solemn opening of the Council of Florence for the reunification of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. The council itself is held in Santa Croce. |
| 1439 | (April 26) The body of Saint Zenobius is moved to the crypt under the cathedral. |
| 1441 | (October 22) On the initiative of Leon Battista Alberti, the certame coronario, a poetry contest in vernacular on the theme of friendship, is held in the Cathedral. |
| 1442 | (October 3) The Commune of Florence obtains another forest for use at the cathedral, this time one belonging to the Guidi di Battifolle counts. |
| 1442-46 | Filippo Brunelleschi builds the chapter house of Santa Croce. |
| 1443 | Clock by Paolo Uccello added to the counter-facade inside the cathedral. |
| 1445 | The first marble of the lantern is laid. |
| 1446 | (April 15) Death of Filippo Brunelleschi. He is buried in the old cathedral. His tomb can be seen among the excavations of Santa Reparata under the Duomo. |
| 1446 | (August 11) Michelozzo is elected the new master builder of the dome. |
| 1448 | (July 10) Institution of the public library of Santa Maria del Fiore in the former church of San Pietro in Celoro |
| 1452 | (August 16) Antonio Manetti is elected master builder of the dome. |
| 1453 | Inner cloister of Santa Croce completed. |
| 1455-56 | Fresco for the equestrian monument to Niccolò da Tolentino in the Duomo painted by Andrea del Castagno. |
| 1461 | (April 23) The Duomo's lantern is completed under the direction of Antonio Manetti. |
| 1463-68 | Giuliano da Maiano and his workshop create inlaid panels and the wooden frieze in the Sagrestia delle Messe. |
| 1468-71 | Andrea del Verrocchio creates the bronze ball that is placed on the top of the lantern. |
| 1474 | (December) Installation of the bronze door of the Sagrestia delle Messe by Luca della Robbia, Michelozzo and Maso di Bartolomeo. Work on it had begun in 1445. |
| 1475 | Gnomon by Paolo del Pozzo Toscanelli installed in the cathedral. |
| 1478 | (April 26) The Pazzi Conspiracy against the Medicis plays out in the Duomo. Giuliano de’ Medici is assassinated during Easter Mass; his brother Lorenzo is wounded but escapes, taking shelter in the Sagrestia delle Messe. |
| 1482-87 | Girolamo Savonarola preaches at the convent of San Marco in Florence. |
| 1490 | Lorenzo de Medici uses his influence to bring Savonarola back to Florence, but regrets it when the popular preacher immediately begins denouncing the city's oppressive government. |
| 1491 | A competition for the facade of the cathedral promoted by Lorenzo the Magnificent ends without winners. |
| 1492 | (April 5) The lantern of the cupola is seriously damaged by lightening. The event will be considered a bad omen when Lorenzo the Magnificent dies three days later. Despite their earlier conflicts, Savonarola blessed Lorenzo as he died. |
| 1494 | Invading French armies, supported by the people of Florence, drive out the Medicis. Savonarola steps into the power vacuum, declaring Florence a Christian republic. |
| 1496-97 | Despite mounting opposition, not least from the corrupt pope, Savonarola maintains his position and preaches on Ezekiel. |
| 1498 | During Lent, Savonarola preaches his last sermons, on the book of Exodus. |
| 1503 | (April 24) Michelangelo is hired to sculpt statues of the Twelve Apostles for the Duomo's choir chapels. He would only complete a rough-hewn St. Matthew, which is now displayed in the Galleria dell'Accademia. |
| 1587 | On advice of Bernardo Buontalenti, Grand Duke Francesco I orders the demolition of Arnolfi’s cathedral facade and proclaims a competition to replace it. The sudden death of Francesco I, however, prevents the proclamation of a winner. |
| 1589 | (April 30) Majestic decorations added inside and outside the cathedral for the wedding of Grand Duke Ferdinando I and Christine of Lorraine. A false facade is made in the form of a painted cloth by Domenico Passignani and Federico Zuccari. |
| 1600 | (August-October) Extensive restoration of the false facade and decorations inside the cathedral, under the direction of Alessandro Allori, for the wedding of Maria de Medici and King Henry IV of France. |
| 1601 | Lightening strikes again: the Duomo's lantern is hit, causing the bronze ball of 1471 to crash to the ground. A new ball is mounted a year later. |
| 1604 | Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes), begun in San Lorenzo. It is a great domed octagonal hall where the grand dukes of Florence are buried. |
| 1857-63 | Neo-Gothic facade of Santa Croce constructed. |
| 1635 | A proposed plan for the Duomo's facade is presented to Ferdinando II by the Accademia del Disegno. |
| 1636-39 | Work on the facade is underway, directed by Gherardo Silvani and Giovanni Battista Pieratti in accordance with the Accademia del Disegno project. But three years later, doubts about stability induce Ferdinando II to halt construction. |
| 1661 | (June 20) On the occasion of the wedding of grand prince Cosimo de’ Medici and Marguerite Louise of Bourbon, a false façade for the Cathedral is painted on canvas. |
| 1680 | The public library of Santa Maria del Fiore, founded in 1448, is closed so that the building can be used by lthe Metropolitan Chapter. The collection of manuscripts, incunabula and other printed materials is poorly stored in the residence of the Opera del Duomo. |
| 1685 | (September 28-30) The body of Saint Zenobius is exposed to the faithful in the Duomo. |
| 1688 | Removal of the cantorias (singing galleries) by Luca della Robbia and Donatello in view of the wedding of grand prince Ferdinando de’ Medici and Violante Beatrice of Bavaria. The cantorias are now on display in the Opera del Duomo museum. |
| 1689 | (January 9) For the wedding of grand prince Ferdinando de Medici and Violante Beatrice of Bavaria, Cosimo III orders another false facade for the Duomo. It is made of plastered brick frescoed by Ercole Graziani. |
| 1699 | (August 23) Lightening strikes the pergamena of the lantern. |
| 1818 | (February 22) The Secular Deputation for the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore is instituted to oversee maintenance and conservation of the Duomo and Baptistery. The Deputation includes the president of the Accademia delle Belle Arti, the gonfalonier of Florence, and a Resident Deputy. |
| 1822 | Architect Giuseppe Cacialli creates the new wooden west door and two smaller doors on the facade, now on the south side of the cathedral. |
| 1838-42 | Architect Gaetano Baccani conducts a radical restoration of the Cathedral interior, including the partial removal of Baccio Bandinelli’s choir. |
| 1858 | Institution of the Florentine Association for the Facade of the Duomo. The first lightening rod is installed on the bell tower, on a project by Piarist fathers Giovanni Antonelli and Filippo Cecchi. |
| 1859 | (April 18) Announcement of the first competition for the facade of the Cathedral. |
| 1860 | (April 22) King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele II lays the first stone of the new facade, although specific plans have not yet been developed. |
| 1861-62 | The competition for the façade of the Cathedral is relaunched, but does not produce a winning project. |
| 1864 | Plans for the facade by Emilio De Fabris are chosen, but not carried out due to harsh criticism both in Italy and abroad. |
| 1866 | Giovanni Antonelli and Filippo Cecchi of the Osservatorio Ximeniano conduct the first experiment in the cathedral with a Foucault pendulum. |
| 1866-67 | The third competition for the façade of the Cathedral results in another victory for Emilio De Fabris. |
| 1869 | (March 11) Emilio De Fabris appointed architect of the Opera and entrusted with realizing the new facade. |
| 1871 | (June 24) The new facade of the Cathedral is begun. |
| 1883 | (June 28) Death of Emilio De Fabris. Luigi Del Moro replaces him as architect and director of works for the facade. |
| 1887 | (May 12) Inauguration of the facade of the Cathedral. |
| 1888 | (December 13) The competition for the two bronze minor doors on the façade is won by Augusto Passaglia and brothers Amos and Giuseppe Cassioli. |
| 1891 | (May 3) Inauguration of the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo on a project by Luigi Del Moro, on the premises of the historical residence in Piazza del Duomo. |
| 1897 | (April 4) Inauguration of the left door of the cathedral facade by Augusto Passaglia. |
| (June 23) Death of architect Luigi Del Moro. He is replaced by Giuseppe Castellucci. | |
| 1899 | (June 24) Inauguration of the right door of the cathedral facade by the Cassioli brothers. |
| 1903 | Passaglia’s new bronze door for the cathedral is unveiled in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III. |
| 1929 | New experiments with the Foucault pendulum in the Cathedral conducted by father Guido Alfani, director of the Osservatorio Ximeniano. |
| 1965-67 | The panels of the campanile are moved to the Museum and replaced by copies. |
| 1966 | (November 4) A flood causes serious damage to the Duomo, Baptistery, Museum and historical archive of the Opera del Duomo. The effects on the Gate of Paradise are particularly serious. |
| 1972 | Tomb of Filippo Brunelleschi found in the Duomo. |
Travel Resources
- Florence Maps - our own interactive map plus links to more online maps
- Florence Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in advance
- Florence Hostels - search and book budget lodgings
- Florence Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews from fellow travelers
- Florence Restaurant Reviews - best places to eat while in Florence
- Florence Car Rentals - explore Tuscany with a car picked up in Florence
- Florence Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Florence tourism
Article Sources
- A Holy Area - Opera del Duomo official website
- "Florence." Encyclopedia Britannica
- Remains of Santa Reparata - Museums in Florence
