Florence cathedral_The construction paradigm shift in Santa Maria del Fiore

A comparison of the plans for the piers of the aisles in the cathedrals of Pisa, Siena (including the surviving pillars of the Duomo Nuovo) and Florence reveals interesting dimensional variations. As could be expected, the granite columns of Pisa cathedral, covered by trusses, have the smallest section. In the vaulted aisles of Siena cathedral, the section increase of around 30% recorded in the transition from the pillars of the aisles defined with the intermediate cathedral to the pillars of the Duomo Nuovo appears to be moderate and might have been one of the joint causes that led to the collapse. In Florence cathedral, the increase in the resistant section of the pillars is, respectively, of 242% and 263% much bigger with respect to those of the Duomo Nuovo. The domed space of Santa Maria del Fiore, compared to the crossings of Pisa and Siena cathedrals, is more independent from the basilican body. Imposing pillars were placed at its base, with the extension of the wall mass clearly prevailing over the character of an isolated pier made up of a base, shaft and capital.