The centrality of the Cathedral Chapter on the political and social scene of Florence is demonstrated by the constant presence of exponents of the city's ruling class among the assignees of the major canonical offices. The hegemony of the great Florentine families over the cathedral canons was manifested through the frequent recurrence of families such as the Minerbetti, the Gianfigliazzi, the Medici, the Strozzi, the Corsini, the Albizi. For example, it belonged to the Florentine Chapter Giovanni de' Medici, who later became Pope Leo X.
There was no lack of men of culture, such as Marsilio Ficino, or of a holy life, such as Ven. Lorenzo M. Gianni.
Among the Florentine Bishops who dedicated particular care to the Chapter are to be remembered St. Podio (1231th century), Atto (1249th century), Ardingo (1309-1321), Antonio d'Orso, former canon and archpriest of S. Reparata, Florentine prelate from XNUMX to XNUMX, to whom we owe the first known Chapter Constitutions, kept in manuscript in the archives. In the XNUMXth century, Archbishop S. Antonino Pierozzi was executor of the papal bulls of Niccolò V according to which a public library, entrusted to the canons.

The library remained in existence until the eighteenth century, when, by decision of the Grand Duke, volumes and codes were transferred to the Laurentian and Magliabechiana libraries.

Note also the close connection that, in medieval times, throughout the Renaissance and until relatively recent times, existed between the Chapter of the Cathedral and the Florentine Studio, which was based in the current Via dello Studio, in premises still owned today. of the Opera del Duomo.