This story appears in the February 2014 issue of National Geographic magazine. In 1418 the town fathers of Florence finally addressed a monumental problem they’d been ignoring for decades: the ...

Majestic Florence as seen from atop the 13th Century Duomo Cathedral in Italy. Video by Philstar.com / Deni Bernardo ...

is not only Florence's religious center, but it's also the city's most recognizable attraction. Occupying the Piazza del Duomo in the heart of the city, this massive Gothic cathedral was erected ...