How Was the World's Biggest Dome Built? - Florence Cathedral

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  • Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
  • Florence Cathedral remained without a dome for more than a century, for nobody was capable of building it, until Filippo Brunelleschi presented a promising solution in 1418, but how did he do it? Join me and discover the secrets of the construction that started the Renaissance.
    Subtitles available in several languages.
    Ve el vídeo en español: • Cómo se construyó la c...
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    Watch my videos of Ancient Rome: • Ancient Rome
    The original architect: 00:00
    Filippo Brunelleschi: 1:15
    The competition: 1:57
    Structure of the dome: 4:06
    Construction: 7:13
    Inside the dome: 8:40
    Top of the dome: 9:08
    Fresco on the ceiling: 10:12
    Hoist: 10:30
    Completion: 11:08
    The wonder: 11:29

КОМЕНТАРІ • 460

  • @ManuelBravo
    @ManuelBravo  Рік тому +32

    What is your favorite Renaissance building?

    • @Joshua_Knowles_
      @Joshua_Knowles_ Рік тому +2

      the piazza san marco in venice or florence cathedral 👍👍

    • @Nicods
      @Nicods Рік тому +1

      Brabante's Tempietto di San Pietro in Montorio in Roma.

    • @29trent
      @29trent Рік тому +2

      The Pazzi Chapel at Sta Croce or the Vasari Corridor

    • @Rays_Bad_Decisions
      @Rays_Bad_Decisions Рік тому

      The largest dome is Hagia Sofia in Istanbul until modern stadiums were built

    • @msrjorge1805
      @msrjorge1805 Рік тому

      Wow! Magnificent dome and the video with great explanations

  • @johnenglish929
    @johnenglish929 Рік тому +125

    He was way ahead of his time in terms of concern for the safety of his workers. From memory, only two people dies in the building of the Duomo - sad, but incredibly low compared with the standards at the time. An incredible man. A true genius.

  • @FlorentPlacide
    @FlorentPlacide Рік тому +223

    I went to Firenze when I was young and I was awestruck by the mystery and the magnificence of this city. Most of it is so well-preserved you can feel the centuries and the thousands of lives that spent here just by walking the streets. I long to go back and to wander and wonder in the former Republic. Thank you for this video and these amazing shots.

    • @scj8863
      @scj8863 Рік тому

      8

    • @stan.rarick8556
      @stan.rarick8556 Рік тому +4

      The view from the Piazzale Michelangelo is much the same as seen in woodcuts from hundreds of years before

    • @Avarage_White_Bryan
      @Avarage_White_Bryan Рік тому +2

      Assassin's Creed II

  • @jusilva6751
    @jusilva6751 Рік тому +206

    Brunelleschi was such a genius! Amazing video, as always! ❤️

    • @ManuelBravo
      @ManuelBravo  Рік тому +8

      He was indeed! Thanks for your comment Ju!

    • @argiberico
      @argiberico Рік тому +4

      I wonder who FLorentines love more, Brunelleschi o Batistuta 😅

    • @BauAuslese
      @BauAuslese Рік тому +5

      One genius is not enough for a task of this magnitude. You need a crowd of experienced workers who are very well organized. In that aspect the dome is a testimony to cooperation, discipline and maybe to religious faith who led them to take the risk.

    • @AndyFromBeaverton
      @AndyFromBeaverton Рік тому +5

      @@ManuelBravo He was the original Renaissance man before Leonardo da Vinci took his crown.

    • @danielefabbro822
      @danielefabbro822 Рік тому +1

      Brunelleschi and the Bernini was the two most prolific and illustrious artists of their time.

  • @HenrikoMagnifico
    @HenrikoMagnifico Рік тому +57

    I can't believe they made Assassin's Creed II in real life

  • @1fandik
    @1fandik Рік тому +42

    Being on top of the dome was the most amazing experience ever. And not to mention climbing and seeing all the skeleton up close. What human hands can do with minimal tools is astounding. È capolavoro costruito per generazioni

  • @michaelallen5505
    @michaelallen5505 Рік тому +108

    Also amazing was the hoist to lift the thousands of tons of material. It was driven by oxen turning in a circle. It used a special feature for lowering material without the oxen changing direction. Yes, he also invented the reverse gear!

    • @maily8388
      @maily8388 8 місяців тому +2

      I always amazed how the Roman could hoist the building materials up to the hills since most of Italy cities are up hills. There’s only 20% flat land in Italy. Since walking alone uphills we were huffing buffing. On top of that, how could the Roman pumped water uphills and how public fountains water created pressures to pump the water for Romanians to use?

    • @lupepedraza8497
      @lupepedraza8497 8 місяців тому +1

      I climbed the Dome. What a marvelous construction!

  • @stephenmccallion3407
    @stephenmccallion3407 3 дні тому +1

    Fantastic documentary, and Mr. Bravo is an excellent teacher!

  • @solecipollari
    @solecipollari Рік тому +7

    Lasy month I was visiting Firenze and Italy for the first time in my life (really hope not the only one) and spent my birthday evening climbing the campanile and I was up there and I cried, listening to someone playing Allelujah in the street. Now I watch your video and I'm crying again. That places and experiences are uniques and incredibles. Thank you for this wonderful video! Greets from Córdoba, Argentina. 🙂🙃

  • @starcrib
    @starcrib Рік тому +22

    Again: your skills at storytelling and production value is absolutely engaging, historical, and factual. Thanks for this. 🌍🌎🌏

  • @Ozymandi_as
    @Ozymandi_as Рік тому +15

    First time I've seen one of your videos, just appeared in my feed, and reminded me of my first trip to Florence as a student, many years ago. I dimly remembered that double skin construction, and the stairway that wound through it. And the view from the cupola over those terracotta rooftops.
    Your explanation of Brunelleschi's ingenuity, and the lessons he'd learnt from classical Rome, was really good. Amazing how intuitive he was, before the maths and physics of calculus and catenaries was available to help him. It seems that like many others, he must have been inspired by Florence. The art, the architecture, the literature and the ideas that came from men who found their way to that city illuminated all of Europe, after centuries under darkness. It's fantastic that so much of what was laid out, built and made 6 centuries ago has survived intact for us to admire and learn from today.

  • @marcoriglione6819
    @marcoriglione6819 3 місяці тому +3

    i’m from florence, born here, this is a awesome video, thank you ❤

  • @henrylares9269
    @henrylares9269 7 місяців тому +7

    Excellent documentary… and that comes from an Architectural History professor. Keep up the good work.

  • @3399italiano
    @3399italiano Рік тому +13

    Absolutely fantastic video, Manuel ! Thank you so much. Very clear, very detailed and yet succint explanation of how one of Mankind’s masterpieces was built. An absolutely MUST WATCH for anyone planning to visit but also for those who alredy visited !

  • @prototropo
    @prototropo Рік тому +14

    Thank you, Manuel! Your videos are so beautifully narrated, with such a deep command of architecture theory.

  • @hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156
    @hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156 Рік тому +3

    As a journeyman woodworker, the sheer class and ingenuity of some solutions people came up with in those days is absolutely inspiring. I recently subscribed to your channel and I'm loving every video so far. Thanks for posting!

  • @wadeunderhile7977
    @wadeunderhile7977 Рік тому +9

    Was there in the late 70s absolutely beautiful and amazing. The old bridge that crosses the river is amazing, a beautiful city

  • @mcswordfish
    @mcswordfish Рік тому +7

    Fantastic and interesting video. I've been to Florence twice, climbed the Duomo once, and it remains one of the most spectacular buildings I've ever visited.

  • @pepumarius2006
    @pepumarius2006 Рік тому +33

    when visiting Florence this summer, I wondered what would a construction work genius like Brunelleschi achieve if he lived in modern times? The visit to the top of the dome was a bit... difficult, but oh boy was it worth the effort. All the way up you can marvel at his genius as you can observe details in the construction. Loved each and every moment of it. Great video Manuel!

  • @kenjd57
    @kenjd57 Рік тому +3

    Thanks for the in-depth history of the dome in Florence.

  • @brunerguy1
    @brunerguy1 Рік тому +7

    This is the best description of the Dome I've ever seen! Thanks!

  • @roberttodd8889
    @roberttodd8889 Рік тому +22

    The amazing thing about the elevator/lift for materials was that Brunelleschi invented a transmission that allowed both raising and lowering of the lift without reversing the horses. They could continue to move the same direction in a circle and the position of the transmission would determine whether the lift was raising or lowering.

    • @lancer525
      @lancer525 11 місяців тому +1

      Oxen, not horses.

  • @antoniomonter0
    @antoniomonter0 Рік тому +9

    Manuel, tus videos son una verdadera inspiración, de verdad te admiro muchísimo. Sigue con ese excelente trabajo 🧠

  • @williamfahey6066
    @williamfahey6066 Рік тому +3

    Wonderful video ! This is the best, and the most interesting
    video I have ever seen of the Florence Cathedral Dome.
    Thank you,
    Jeff

  • @bwhog
    @bwhog Рік тому +6

    Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant design and execution! What a fascinating look at the structure Brunelleschi was inspired to build and what a tremendous marvel of his day. I'm always fascinated by what people were capable of in the days before highly refined mathematics and structural engineering, not to mention machines to make the work faster and easier if not merely possible in the first place. Magnificent!

  • @myvirtualpresencefyi
    @myvirtualpresencefyi Рік тому +28

    Thank you so much. I visited the dome in 1986. In the 90s I studied Architecture so I'd have said that I was quite knowledgeable about this subject but your video & explanation is on another level.
    Professionally: thank you.
    Emotionally: thank you.

  • @georgebernstein12
    @georgebernstein12 Рік тому

    It’s the most beautiful, awe inspiring building I’ve ever seen & the gates of paradise being in the complex makes it a must see while in Firenze !

  • @andreadanaegomez5396
    @andreadanaegomez5396 Рік тому +1

    Me encantó! Súper bien explicado y cuando fui a Florencia me había quedado con la duda! Muchas gracias

  • @kenichinishikawa7007
    @kenichinishikawa7007 Рік тому +4

    This video is marvelous. I saw many videos about the dome but this video is the best. I need to visit the dome and appreciate it by myself. Thanks.

  • @hyderhode
    @hyderhode Рік тому

    Thank you for this video. I read Brunelleschi's Dome in preparation for my trip to Florence several years ago. This video was a perfect review of both the book and that trip, reminding me to read the book again, and to visit Florence again too.

  • @RichieTyndall
    @RichieTyndall Рік тому +6

    Oh, how I would love to visit Florence and see this wonder for myself. I remember watching a tv series on its construction. Thanks a million for this video.

  • @jovanmilenkovic2238
    @jovanmilenkovic2238 Рік тому

    What an amazing video! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and enrich our lives! 😊

  • @DouDouMa
    @DouDouMa 8 днів тому

    Thank you for the sharing! Real amazing to understand how it was built. Thank you!

  • @tnd7216
    @tnd7216 Рік тому +1

    Very impressed with attention to details in your description and meticulous videography!

  • @blingiy
    @blingiy Рік тому +2

    You did a wonderful video about this monumental work, and being a builder and I have visited Florence, I was very interested in how they accomplished such a incredible task!!

  • @skicrz
    @skicrz Рік тому +1

    Terrific explanation and minitour of one of the Renaissance most beautiful buildings. The Duomo is so much more breathtaking in person and the climb up theCampanile to see the Dome is worth every step and a better view than the climb up the Dome.

  • @aspensulphate
    @aspensulphate Рік тому +1

    Wonderful video! I read Ross King's book some years ago, and it does go into great detail. But your video gives a much more visceral experience of the Cathedral and Dome, which I enjoyed greatly!

  • @HamelinSong
    @HamelinSong Рік тому +7

    Fun facts:
    It took about 140 years to finish this cathedral.
    The bronze orb fell twice.
    The thobolate of the dome is ornate only on one of the 8 sides, the rest did not fell, Baccio d'Agnolo created the balcony, but Michelangelo said it was ugly so, offended, he never finished it.
    Yes, 727 years later, still not finished (take that Sagrada familia!)

  • @ClassicHolic
    @ClassicHolic Рік тому +1

    What an absolutely awesome video and channel. Thank you so much!

  • @kathleenklaiber7967
    @kathleenklaiber7967 Рік тому +1

    Fantastic storytelling! Really interesting! Thank-you so much!

  • @vergelsevilla3594
    @vergelsevilla3594 Рік тому

    Manuel, you deserve 10 million subs.
    I love hearing the stories behind medieval architecture.

  • @GregoryJacksonPhD
    @GregoryJacksonPhD 6 місяців тому

    Brilliant, clear descriptions. Thank you.

  • @tc3884
    @tc3884 Рік тому +22

    6:54 when I visited florence, I didn’t read up on the dome before I saw it for the first time. I marvelled at its beauty and the fact that the structures that keep the dome together are hidden under beautiful, colourful marble art.
    When I saw the part bare wall below the dome I thought I’m lucky to see it because this must be due to restoration works on the marble.
    How wrong I was ! It’s amazing to learn that they made the choice to leave this part of the wall uncovered. It proves that they knew, people would wanna see a part of structure below the beautiful marble cover. So well thought out !

    • @kacperwoch4368
      @kacperwoch4368 Рік тому +1

      Honestly I doubt this story, Michelangelo did not own the cathedral to make such decision, far more likely they run out of money and left it unfinished. The facade also remained unfinished for centuries until it was finished.

  • @joesaunders9337
    @joesaunders9337 Рік тому +3

    Fantastic video, fantastic channel! Thank you for this 👍

  • @carolynmcpherson2667
    @carolynmcpherson2667 Рік тому +1

    Very well done! I would highly recommend this to everyone who has been there, and to anyone who wants to visit in the future. Bravo!

  • @SJR_Media_Group
    @SJR_Media_Group Рік тому +9

    Thank you for an amazing video...
    Even today this would be considered a very technical build. The fact he did it hundreds of years ago is beyond amazing. The Romans thought they had mastered gravity and structures. Brunelleschi definitely exceeded even the best Roman Architecture. Now we know who, where, why, and how it was done.

  • @MySpace662
    @MySpace662 Рік тому +3

    A massive undertaking for it's time, and brilliantly executed.

  • @DavidMcCoul
    @DavidMcCoul Рік тому +3

    Loved the video, and Florence is my favorite Italian city. Bravo, Manuel!

  • @frankschmitzer5824
    @frankschmitzer5824 Рік тому +2

    Very wonderful, please forgive me for an earlier comment I made regarding your voice . . . I am sorry. After I actually listened to what you were saying and your truly inspired explanations of these extraordinary buildings, I realized that you are one of the best historians of architecture on the Internet. A million sincere thank yous.

  • @charbelsamaha1409
    @charbelsamaha1409 Рік тому +5

    love the videos! Keep up the great work

  • @dantegabrielittesor4483
    @dantegabrielittesor4483 Рік тому +1

    Otro precioso video Manu! Enhorabuena!

  • @matthewb3113
    @matthewb3113 Рік тому +2

    Great video, and enjoyed learning the engineering used in the past.

  • @thomash6853
    @thomash6853 Рік тому +2

    Very informative, great video as usual!

  • @martinholden2281
    @martinholden2281 11 місяців тому

    Excellent documentary, thanks for sharing MB.

  • @dalechodorow7465
    @dalechodorow7465 Рік тому

    Excellent video! Extremely well explained, verbally and graphically. I had bought Ross King's "Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture" in 2014, right after I had visited Florence. This video is a superb presentation of the main technical details presented in the book.

  • @HengtimeConsult
    @HengtimeConsult Місяць тому

    An Excellent documentation, Manuel. Thank you for the deteiled insights of the great engineering involved to building the cupola!

  • @shinola228
    @shinola228 Рік тому +3

    Great video. Truly amazing how massive it is and well engineered. That latern alone must weigh hundreds of tons.

  • @iliemarculescu6363
    @iliemarculescu6363 Рік тому +1

    So beautiful, thank you very much !

  • @andressandoval2494
    @andressandoval2494 Рік тому +3

    Excelente video. Muchas gracias Manuel por compartirlo. Seguro hay detrás una gran dósis de esfuerzo e investigación dedicada. En estos días resulta increíble pensar siquiera en elevar una obra monumental de esta índole sin la ayuda de las máquinas y la actual tecnología de los materiales. ¡¡Una obra sencillamente notable!!

  • @michaelkirkby6306
    @michaelkirkby6306 11 місяців тому

    Beautiful subject matter and a very well done video. Thank you.

  • @brettjohnson6807
    @brettjohnson6807 Рік тому +23

    One of my favorite memories is climbing all the stairs in that dome and Giotto's belltower, and the views of the interior and exterior of that amazing dome. If anyone gets the opportunity to do so I highly recommend it! Great video!

  • @craigkeller
    @craigkeller Рік тому

    Excellent presentation. Thank you 🙏!

  • @hazhoner5727
    @hazhoner5727 Рік тому +2

    The genius of Italians spread among all human fields

  • @geckoman1011
    @geckoman1011 Рік тому +1

    This was very well made. Excellent visuals.

  • @alexshchet
    @alexshchet Рік тому

    This is a brilliant review of the engineering marvel and genius. Thank you!

  • @matthewclatworthy3597
    @matthewclatworthy3597 Рік тому +5

    Great video, thank you ! 👏👏🙏

  • @danielsantos3124
    @danielsantos3124 Рік тому +15

    Nice video! You might be interested in knowing that after a recent restauration, the romanic cupola of the Zamora Cathedral in Spain, finished in 1174, it was found to be the first double casquet cupola so far in history of architecture.
    It's a very nice cupola of bizantinian influence.

  • @patboyd1587
    @patboyd1587 Рік тому

    Wonderful video. Love all your videos. That dome is a product of genius and a tribute to the people of Florence who had it built.

  • @qno-oj3py
    @qno-oj3py Рік тому

    Thank you for making this video.

  • @melaniemccool1762
    @melaniemccool1762 11 місяців тому

    Thank you so much. This is such an interesting and well done video!

  • @anupamroy7935
    @anupamroy7935 Рік тому +12

    Excellent work.

  • @roxanner1426
    @roxanner1426 Рік тому +2

    Genial amo la arquitectura y tus videos gracias desde México

  • @brentonjoseph
    @brentonjoseph Рік тому +2

    Brilliant video, thank you so much!💜 I love your approach!

    • @brentonjoseph
      @brentonjoseph Рік тому

      I re-watch this all the time and it never gets old. 😌

  • @angelcorrea5268
    @angelcorrea5268 Рік тому

    Great documentary, I did learn a lot about the dome in let's than 15 min amazing, thank you! Please do more of these, very need it indeed! Congratulations and hello from London!

  • @malvarmarakontobro
    @malvarmarakontobro Рік тому

    Amazing video with a very clear explanation

  • @A_Eichler
    @A_Eichler Рік тому

    That was a fantastic video! Thank you.

  • @garyspeed8961
    @garyspeed8961 Рік тому

    great Video.. thanks .. fond memories of climbing the dome in 1985

  • @ronaldhorton2438
    @ronaldhorton2438 Рік тому +1

    Brilliant video, thank you. Make more you have a really good style.

  • @williamcotten4539
    @williamcotten4539 Рік тому +1

    I always enjoy your videos. Thank you.

  • @stevenreichertart
    @stevenreichertart Рік тому

    Thanks you for your insightful video with beautiful narration.

  • @sivayamsiva9343
    @sivayamsiva9343 6 місяців тому

    Amazing, wonderful architecture really great, thanks for sharing 🙏

  • @Sagan8
    @Sagan8 Рік тому

    Thanks for this video, Manuel. So educational. Makes me want to go back to Italy again and visit Florence this time.

  • @goatboy7698
    @goatboy7698 Рік тому +2

    your pronunciation of the names is almost perfect, good job dude!

  • @ryanc4761
    @ryanc4761 Рік тому

    Wish I’d known this when I walked up that awesome structure! Thanks for sharing.

  • @petebrandon8164
    @petebrandon8164 6 місяців тому

    Thank you so much- very excellent presentation ! I read Ross Kings excellent book also-So much of the Duomo is fascinating, and so much of Florence. I can’t wait to watch your other presentations!

  • @amalkardaly1652
    @amalkardaly1652 Рік тому +5

    I cant imagone how proud he must have been to see it finally finished!

  • @brianhayes8986
    @brianhayes8986 Рік тому +2

    I just just stumbled upon your channel and I love your vlogs and your history

  • @stevebaker341
    @stevebaker341 Рік тому

    Wow! Excellent video, Manuel. Bravo

  • @chloegracexlilysunday8561
    @chloegracexlilysunday8561 Рік тому

    Thank you for your insight and knowledge of how everything is contracted and how it came about. God Bless you

  • @edmundoferreira-rocha7400
    @edmundoferreira-rocha7400 Рік тому

    Thank you for sharing!

  • @dakilla3228
    @dakilla3228 Рік тому

    Hi Manuel, these analysis are brilliant keep them up

  • @jeffbrinkerhoff5121
    @jeffbrinkerhoff5121 Рік тому +12

    Before Brunelleschi secured the commission there was a younger rival, Bartolomeo Boromini, also soliciting for the job. I believe the story is told in the book you mention, "Brunelleschi's Dome". Very nice video.

    • @robertopinzani6774
      @robertopinzani6774 Рік тому +1

      Bartolomeo Boromini? The concorrent of Filippo Lapi was Lorenzo Ghiberti ,initially they lead the built of the dome together , Bartolomeo Borromini never existed, maybe you refer to Francesco Borromini but he lived two centuries after Filippo Lapi ( Brunelleschi or Filippo di Brunellesco Lapi, Ser Pippo for us the florentines)
      Or maybe you refer to Michelozzo di Bartolomeo learner under Ghiberti , who lived and operated in Florence in middle 1400 being the architet of Cosimo il vecchio.
      Study bro.... you and fives who puts likes on your comment.

    • @robertopinzani6774
      @robertopinzani6774 Рік тому

      Son genti da sempre di cervice dura
      Quest americani di schiatta todesca
      E quando commentano d arte o cultura
      Cazzate son l unica cosa che gli esca
      Dimostrano sempre la loro natura
      E' l unica cosa che ben gli riesca
      Commentano scrivon da grandi soloni
      E mostrano d esser dei pori poponi

    • @pietromar632
      @pietromar632 Рік тому

      @@robertopinzani6774 HUMILITAS!

    • @xhorxheetxeberria-td1hu
      @xhorxheetxeberria-td1hu Рік тому

      @@pietromar632 Why? Facts are important. Ignorance should NEVER be tolerated EVER.

  • @garrymyers9185
    @garrymyers9185 Рік тому

    Thank you for an informative, entertaining and inspiring video.

  • @Sailor-Dave
    @Sailor-Dave Рік тому +2

    Amazing understanding of architectural needs far before most modern architectural principles were founded. Made great use of existing materials along with novel construction techniques.

  • @rafaelcortez7724
    @rafaelcortez7724 Рік тому

    Great video mario
    Bravo
    Well presented and well said

  • @tonybklyn5009
    @tonybklyn5009 Рік тому

    Excellent, excellent, excellent! I enjoyed it immensely.

  • @SuperHairytoes
    @SuperHairytoes Рік тому

    Excellent video, informative and interesting. Thank you.

  • @JLgG2454
    @JLgG2454 Рік тому

    Excellent! Thank You!

  • @therealzilch
    @therealzilch Рік тому

    Fascinating look at a work of genius. Well done. Subscribed.
    cheers from sunny Vienna, Scott

  • @octaviocollazof
    @octaviocollazof Рік тому

    another marvelous video Manuel!