![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/51-basilica-of-santa-sabina-rome-typical-basilical-plan-presented-by-the-molly-claude-team-realtors.jpg)
Basilica of Santa Sabine
Rome
Cathedrals and great churches are magnificent architectural feats that reflect the artistic, cultural, and religious values of their times. Here’s an overview of the architectural styles from Early Christian to Gothic:
Early Christian Architecture (circa 4th-6th centuries)
- Characteristics:
- Simple and utilitarian design.
- Basilicas with a longitudinal plan, featuring a nave, aisles, and an apse.
- Use of spolia (reused materials from earlier buildings).
- Wooden roofs and clerestory windows for lighting.
- Mosaic decorations, especially in apses.
- Examples:
- Old St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome.
- Basilica of Santa Sabina, Rome.
Byzantine Architecture (circa 5th-15th centuries)
- Characteristics:
- Centralized plans, often featuring domes on pendentives.
- Extensive use of mosaics with gold backgrounds.
- Brick and stone construction with elaborate exterior decorations.
- Emphasis on verticality and the creation of a sense of otherworldliness inside.
- Iconostasis separating the nave from the sanctuary.
- Examples**:
- Hagia Sophia, Istanbul.
- Church of San Vitale, Ravenna.
Romanesque Architecture (circa 10th-12th centuries)
- Characteristics:
- Thick walls and heavy, solid construction.
- Rounded arches for doors, windows, and vaults.
- Barrel vaults and groin vaults.
- Small windows leading to dimly lit interiors.
- Decorative arcading, sculptural decoration with biblical themes.
- Examples**:
- Durham Cathedral, England.
- – Basilica of Saint-Sernin, Toulouse.
Gothic Architecture (circa 12th-16th centuries)
- Characteristics:
- Pointed arches and ribbed vaults.
- Flying buttresses to support higher walls and larger windows.
- Large stained glass windows, including rose windows.
- Verticality emphasized through tall spires and towers.
- Ornate facades with extensive sculptural decoration.
- Examples:
- Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris.
- Chartres Cathedral, France.
Santa Sabina
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/52-santa-sabina-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Rotondo
Basilica of San Stefano
Rome
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/53-basilica-of-san-stefano-rotondo-rome-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Basilica of Santa Maria
Maggiore, Rome
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/54-basilica-of-santa-maria-maggiore-rome-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Mausoleum
Santa Costanza
Rome
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/55-santa-costanza-rome-mausoleum-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Early Christian Aspe Mosaic
Santa Pudenziana
Rome
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/56-santa-pudenziana-rome-early-christian-apse-mosaic-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Hagia Sophia
Istanbul
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/57-hagia-sophia-istanbul-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Basilaca of San Vitale
Ravenna
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/58-basilica-of-san-vitale-ravenna-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Basilica of Sant Sofia
Sofia
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/59-basilica-of-sant-sofia-sofia-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Basilica of San Marco
Venice
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/60-basilica-of-san-marco-venice-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Ancient Mosaics
Hagia Sophia
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/61-hagia-sophia-ancient-mosaics-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Apse 6th century mosaics
San Vitale
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/62-san-vitale-apse-6th-century-mosaics-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Monastic Church
Hosios Loukas
Greeze
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/63-hosios-loukas-greece-monastic-church-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Blue Gold Mosaics
San Marcos
Venice
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/64-san-marcos-venice-blue-gold-mosaics-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Sant Georges de Boscherville Abbey
France
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/65-saint-georges-de-boscherville-abbey-france-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Apse
Speyer Cathedral
Germany
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/66-speyer-cathedral-germany-apse-projecting-from-a-chancel-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Free Standing Campanile
Pisa Cathedral
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/67-pisa-chathedral-free-standing-campanile-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
San Miniato Al Monte
Florence
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/68-san-miniato-al-monte-florence-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Church of St Philibert
Tournus Traverse Arches
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/69-church-of-st-philibert-tournus-traverse-arches-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Vezelay Abbey with Clusters of Vertical Shafts
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/70-vezelay-abbey-with-clusters-of-vertical-shafts-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Nave
Peterborough Cathedral
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/71-peterborough-cathedral-nave-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Notre Dame de Paris
Paris
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/72-notre-dame-de-paris-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Cologne Cathedral
Germany
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/73-cologne-cathedral-germany-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Canterbury Cathedral
England
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/74-canterbury-cathedral-england-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Milan Cathedral
Italy
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/75-milan-cathedral-italy-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Bourges Cathedral
France
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/76-bourges-cathedral-france-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Salisbury Cathedral
England
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/77-salisbury-cathedral-england-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)
Basilica of Santa Maria
Novella, Florence
Italy
![](https://c73d63645c.mjedge.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/78-basilica-of-santa-maria-novella-florence-presented-by-the-claude-jobin-ottawa-real-estate-agent.jpg)