Upon losing the competition to design the bronze doors to the to Florence Baptistery, Filippo Brunelleschi left Florence and went to Rome to study it’s ancient architectural ruins. It is there that he learned the secrets to the construction of the dome atop the Pantheon. He returned to Florence and won the competition to place the dome atop Santa Maria del Fiore, the Florence Cathedral.

Santa Maria del Fiore, also called The Duomo, sat for about 50 years without a dome because its original architect, Arnolfo di Cambio, died without leaving his plans for the placement of the dome.

Some people believe he did not have a plan.