Florence is home to some of Italy’s finest Renaissance art, history and architecture. It’s a must-see for visitors to Italy and one of the world’s most famous cultural cities. But rising above all these masterpieces, both literally, and some would argue figuratively, is the colossal Florence Duomo, or otherwise known as Santa Maria Del Fiore.

The enormous red-tiled dome—the biggest brick and mortar dome in the world—is both a product and a symbol of the incredibly fecund creative culture that has defined the city for over 500 years. Read along to learn about seven things you probably didn’t know about the Florence Duomo.