Context brings the brightest minds to your living room with perspective-shifting online lectures.

Churches of Florence: The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Dr. Alessandra Becucci

Churches of Florence: The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Dr. Alessandra Becucci


No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.

Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Visit one of the oldest and largest churches in the world and the first dome built in modern times.
In 1296, the first stone of the new basilica entitles to the Virgin Mary was posed by the site of the pre-existing church of Saint Reparata. The construction, sponsored by the Florentine Republic government, continued through several interruptions until 1436, when Filippo Brunelleschi completed the largest dome built since antiquity, later to become a model for Michelangelo’s dome at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Together with the Baptistry of St. John, the Florentine cathedral constituted the spiritual center of the city, at the center of religious celebrations as well as civic events, such as the readings of Dante’s Divine Comedy and the gatherings of the Council of Florence for the reunification of the Roman and Byzantine churches. At the end of the same century, momentous events defining the history of Florence took place in the church, including the killing of Giuliano de’ Medici and Gerolamo Savonarola’s fervent preaching. As the most important church in all of Florence, and for a few centuries, the largest church in the world, Santa Maria del Fiore is home to art treasures, including paintings, sculptures, mosaics, stained glass, and goldsmithing. Artists like Filippo Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Paolo Uccello, Giorgio Vasari, Federico Zuccari, Baccio Bandinelli, among others, contributed to its decoration until the nineteenth century when the current façade was built. Join us to discover the Cathedral’s treasures, the story of the competition for the Dome and its artistic and astronomical importance.
Led by Florentine art historian Alessandra Becucci this conversation will introduce you to the most important church in Florence, an inescapable point of departure for any visit to the city.
This conversation is part of a series on the churches of Florence with Alessandra Becucci. Each session is designed as a stand-alone seminar as well as part of the series.

Born and raised in Florence, Alessandra has a degree in art history from the University of Florence with a specialization in seventeenth-century painting. She obtained an MRes from the European University Institute in Florence, where she defended her Ph.D in history, focusing on the patronage of Tuscan nobility in Europe during the seventeenth century. She has been teaching art history and Italian for several years in various schools and institutions in Florence.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
80%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
20%
(1)
0%
(0)
D
D. (St. Catharines, CA)
Excellent, as always!

We have spent a great deal of time in Florence at the apartment of a cousin of a friend and at an Intensive Italian class. We have taken two Context walking tours there. Nonetheless this was a most informative, useful and interesting presentation! I learned a great deal and found the instructor always ready to answer questions and most knowledgeable. Thank you for this!

S
Susan Stitely (East Calais, US)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Dr. Alessandra Becucci?

Very informative highlighting the antiquity of the Cathedral and the process of building it.

S
Susan McG (Brooklyn, US)
Churches of Florence - The Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore

Such a lovely seminar, as are all of the seminars in this series. Dr. Becucci gives such lovely context on the significance of this magnificent place. So lovely.

A
Anonymous (Porto Alegre, BR)

Guest did not leave comment

D
David Elderkin (Wynnewood, US)
How do you make the Florence Duomo dull?

You get 45 minutes into a 60 minute lecture without getting inside the current building. Not what I expected.

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
80%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
20%
(1)
0%
(0)
D
D. (St. Catharines, CA)
Excellent, as always!

We have spent a great deal of time in Florence at the apartment of a cousin of a friend and at an Intensive Italian class. We have taken two Context walking tours there. Nonetheless this was a most informative, useful and interesting presentation! I learned a great deal and found the instructor always ready to answer questions and most knowledgeable. Thank you for this!

S
Susan Stitely (East Calais, US)
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Dr. Alessandra Becucci?

Very informative highlighting the antiquity of the Cathedral and the process of building it.

S
Susan McG (Brooklyn, US)
Churches of Florence - The Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore

Such a lovely seminar, as are all of the seminars in this series. Dr. Becucci gives such lovely context on the significance of this magnificent place. So lovely.

A
Anonymous (Porto Alegre, BR)

Guest did not leave comment

D
David Elderkin (Wynnewood, US)
How do you make the Florence Duomo dull?

You get 45 minutes into a 60 minute lecture without getting inside the current building. Not what I expected.