XIII and XIV centuries

1294

The Commune of Florence decrees the construction of the new cathedral named after Santa Maria del Fiore in substitution of Santa Reparata.

1296 sept 8

The first stone of Santa Maria del Fiore is blessed in a ceremony which, according to several versions, took place in 1298. The project is entrusted to architect Arnolfo di Cambio who dies somewhere between 1301 and 1310.

1321

A Statute of the Capitano del Popolo of Florence orders that five of the seven Major Arts should superintend the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, rotating annually.

1331 jan

The body of Saint Zenobius, bishop of Florence from 376 to 407, is found in Santa Reparata. The skull is placed in a silver reliquary bust, made for the occasion by Filippo Arditi (and still conserved in the Cathedral), while the other remains are replaced in the same tomb.

1331 oct 2

The Commune of Florence places the Opera di S. Maria del Fiore under the superintendence of the Wool Merchants Guild and launches a new financing system based on the regular payment to Opera of fixed quotas of public revenues.

1334 apr 13

Giotto appointed architect of the Opera by the Commune of Florence.

1334 jul 18

The construction of the bell tower begins on a project by Giotto.

1337 jan 8

Giotto dies and is buried in the Cathedral.

1337-1343

Andrea Pisano, the Opera master builder. His activity centers on the bell tower, already begun under Giotto’s direction, and continues up to the fourth order. Andrea and his collaborators (Maso di Banco, Nino Pisano, Alberto Arnoldi, Gino Micheli da Castello and others) are responsible for 21 of the 26 hexagonal panels of the lower order, all of the lozenge panels of the second order, and a total of eight statues on the west side (moved to the north side in 1464) and on the third order of the south side.

1343

Andrea Pisano is expelled from Florence after the fall of the Duke of Athens. Some believe he reclaimed his position at the Opera in 1348.

1350

Andrea Pisano dies. Francesco Talenti, the Opera master builder.

1355

Talenti proposes a new model for the cathedral and substantially modifies Arnolfi’s project, considerably increasing the arch of the bays, reducing their number to three, and leaving the length of the aisles and naves unaltered.

1357 jun 19

Talenti’s project for the Cathedral is approved.

1359 mar 29

The bell tower is completed under the direction of Francesco Talenti.

1364 dec 20

Francesco Talenti is dismissed as director of works and replaced by Giovanni di Lapo Ghini. At that time, the first two bays of the cathedral have been completed.

1366

Talenti returns as master builder alongside Giovanni Ghini.

1367 nov 19

A commission of architects, “master painters,” and goldsmiths approves the final project for the nave and aisles (which provides for the addition of a fourth bay) and the apse of the cathedral. The works are entrusted to master builders Giovanni Ghini and Francesco Talenti.

1375

Demolition of the last architectural structures of Santa Reparata.

1378

The vault of the nave is completed.

1380

The side aisles are completed.

1380 jun 8

Alpe del Corniolo, a forest located in the Tuscan-Romagnolo Apennines, and confiscated by the Republic of Florence from the Guidi di Modigliana counts, is donated to the Opera del Duomo to ensure a regular supply of timber for the cathedral building site.

1391

Work begins on the Porta della Mandorla.

1394-96

Stained-glass windows of the nave and aisles are carried out by Leonardo di Simone, Piero di Niccolò Tedesco and Antonio da Pisa.