Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower (Italian, "Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore") is the main church of Florence, Italy. Construction in the Gothic style began in 1296 and was completed with the dome in 1436. The exterior of the building is faced with marble polychrome panels in various shades of pink and green bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic Revival façade.
The basilica is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other beautiful buildings in the historic centre of Florence and is one of a major attraction to tourists from all over the world visiting the Tuscany. The Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower is one of largest churches in Italy, and until invention of modern building materials, it was the largest dome in the world. It remains the largest dome ever made of bricks.
