Romanesque architecture

6. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE THE ROMANESQUE STYLE

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Romanesque architecture spread through Europe during the 11 th century.

This made it the first international style to develop in Europe since the end of the Roman Empire.

Romanesque style was very influenced by Rome’s cultural heritage.

It first developed in Italy, France and Spain.

The purpose of Romanesque art and architecture was essentially religious.

Churches had always the form of a cross.

Symbolism was very important: all aspects of building were significant, including its shape, materials and colour.

The greatest achievements of Romanesque architecture were: churches, cathedrals and monasteries.

Sculptures and paintings were created as decoration for these buildings, and not as separate art.

6. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE -Romanesque architecture made use of the semi-circular Roman arch.

- Buildings were constructed with heavy stone.

- Their walls was very thick and solid and they has few small windows.

- The vault (b贸veda) was one of the most characteristical features of the Romanesque architecture.

- The barrel vault (B贸veda de ca帽贸n)was an arched surface, shape like a very long half barrel (it is like a succession of several Roman arch ).

- Buildings were supported by columns.

- Romanesque buildings had very heavy stone roofs, because of that supporting buttresses (contrafuertes) were built against their walls to prevent them from fell down

6. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE -

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ROMANESQUE CHURCHES Cathedrals and churches were built in the shape of a cross, but some features varied depends on the geographical region.

In Italy, they were short T-shaped buildings and a separate bell tower.

On the Iberian Peninsula, larger churches had two towers.

The central nave (nave central) of the cathedral or church was the long arm of their cross shape. This was separated from the side aisles by a row of columns supporting arches.

The transept (Transepto)was the shorter arm of the cross.

A semi-circular apse (รกbside) was found at he eastern end of the church.

Opposite it, there was a faรงade with a large portal (pรณrtico).