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）。
the last judgement by domenico di michelino
参考译文
古罗马式的长房形礼堂圣母百花教堂是礼拜型教堂，或称为"杜莫"（意大利文，意思是，礼拜用教堂），归属于天主教的佛罗伦萨大主教区，以它与众不同的的穹顶而闻名。它的名字（直译为"百花的圣玛利"）指的是百合花，这是佛罗伦萨的标志。
但一份15世纪的档案显示，"百花"指的是基督。一座大教堂是一座基督徒的礼拜建筑，而且是特定的以主教等级命名的建筑（就像罗马天主教教堂，路德教会或英国国教教堂），它是一个主教教区的中心礼拜教堂。所谓佛罗伦萨的罗马天主教大主教区，是罗马天主教教会在意大利的神职领土。
大教堂的参观区域包括严格意义上的教堂本身，八角洗礼堂，以及但丁钟楼。那座圣约翰的洗礼堂是佛罗伦萨最古老的建筑。大教堂内部给人的印象是，像洞穴一样空旷。教堂的相对空旷正与宗教生活的清苦不谋而合，就像萨佛纳罗拉传道时所讲的那样。
教堂的许多装饰都在漫漫历史长河中遗失了。当这座大教堂由公共资金赞助修建的时候，它拥有的一些重要的艺术作品让佛罗伦萨的军政要人引以为荣：
米开朗基罗的《但丁和"神曲"》
乌且罗的的骑马雕像《约翰-霍克伍德》
米开朗基罗的屋顶壁画《最后的审判》
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