Soltaniyeh in Relation to the Santa Maria Del Fiore The Dome of Soltaniyeh features many architectural similarities to Brunelisschi’s dome for the Santa Maria Del Fiore, and some architectural historians like Piero Sanpaolesi have speculated the buildings may have influenced each other despite their great distance apart. There are several architectural similarities between the two domes. Structurally, both domes feature an arched network of herringbone bricks, called in Italian “spina -di -pesce”. The Dome of Soltaniyeh's high sphero-conical dome on an octagonal base exhibits is the same structure as the Santa Maria Del Fiore, both with eight ribs supporting each structure. However, the Dome of Soltaniyeh remains unique in the way that its arches and ribs structurally support the dome. Finally both domes, feature a double-shelled structure. The Dome of Soltaniyeh was the first example of this structure in Iran, and several scholars hypothesize that it is possible for the construction system of Soltaniyeh to have been disseminated from Iran to Brunelleschi in Italy, in the time span of almost a century. Many academics argue that because of these similarities, and many more, that the Dome of Soltaniyeh influenced the Santa Maria Del Fiore, which was constructed 100 years later. However, it is possible that Bruneleschi and his engineers may have independently come up with the same solutions to similar architectural challenges that both domes faced. Gallery See also History of Persian domes References Buildings and structures completed in 1312 Cemeteries in Iran Domes World Heritage Sites in Iran Architecture in Iran Ilkhanate Buildings and structures in Zanjan Province Tourist attractions in Zanjan Province 1300s in the Mongol Empire