Florence31 Brunelleschi's Dome on top of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore inaugurated the architectural Renaissance. When Michelangelo accepted the commission to design the dome for St Peter's in Rome, he said that he could make one as large as the one in his home town of Florence, but not as beautiful. As I had already climbed this dome on a previous trip, I decided to forgo the “pleasure” of the 436 narrow steps and stooping over when you get to the upper section, and just take a photo from ground level.