Saint Mary of the Flower or Santa Maria del fiore, a Cathedral in Florence.

The cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in the center of Florence was designed by the architect and sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio. The  medieval cathedral was begun in 1200 and completed around the end of  1400, to its realization not only financially contributed the strong  wool associations present at the time but also Giotto, especially in the  realization of the imposing bell tower.
Santa Maria del  fiore had been built on the previous cathedral dedicated to Santa  Reparata, of which today we can admire the remains in the museum of the  work of the Duomo.

The dome of the Cathedral instead is a true portent, designed by  Brunelleschi, despite the skepticism of the Florentines, called the  self-supporting dome because designed without the use of supports to  hold the arches.
Santa Maria del fiore is in Carrara marble, Siena red marble and Prato green. A triumph of tuscanity.
The Cathedral with three naves is a blaze of beauty, inside you can admire magnificent cycles frescoed by great painters.
The church wanted by the municipality mixed propaganda and religious  iconography, a contrast not new in medieval times with the advent of the  first municipalities, they wanted independence but in the Middle Ages  we can not deviate from the divine to ask for protection.
The façade honors the Madonna and the references to the flower are  symbolic not only on a religious level but also as references to  Florence itself.
The lily as a symbol of purity is a clear reference to the virtues of Mary.
Santa Maria del Fiore is a cathedral of unique beauty that I recommend you visit.
Meanwhile, I leave you with my photos!