The Basilica di San

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral church， or Duomo（Duomo is a generic Italian term for a cathedral church）， of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence， noted for its distinctive dome. Its name （which translates as "Saint Mary of the Flower"） refers to the lily， symbol of Florence.

But a 15th c. document on the other hand states that the "flower" refers to Christ. A cathedral is a Christian church building， specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy （such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Lutheran or Anglican churches）， which serves as the central church of a diocese. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Italy.

The cathedral complex includes the church proper， the baptistery and the campanile （bell tower）。 The Battistero di San Giovanni （Baptistery of St John） is believed to be the oldest building in Florence. The Gothic interior is cavernous and gives an empty impression. The relative bareness of the church corresponds with the austerity of religious life， as preached by Girolamo Savonarola.

Many decorations in the church have been lost in the course of time. As this cathedral was built with funds from the public， some important works of art in this church honour illustrious men and military leaders of Florence ：

Dante and the Divine Comedy by Domenico di Michelino （1465）。

Equestrian statue of John Hawkwood by Paolo Uccello （1436）。