Architecture in Italy

Italian architecture has a wide and diverse number of styles which have evolved through the political, cultural and economical changes from ancient times. and now amazes people from every corner of the world, places such as The Tower of Pisa, The Coliseum, The Circus and more are part of the architecture of the country once considered as the capital of culture.

The most important Periods and Styles in Italy are:

Classical: The Classical architecture comes from Greeks, who influenced The Roman Empire; they began to construct buildings using strict mathematical principles.

The Classical Style had two periods: Greek characterized by the use of Doric columns; Hellenistic characterized by the use of Ionic columns the period finished when Greece was conquered by the Roman Empire; Roman used the styles mentioned before but added more ornamentation, and invented concrete.
After the Classical style, the Neoclassical Style, which influenced in construction worldwide due to the ideas that were scattered in publication, takes place.

Early Medieval: Style developed after the fall of the Roman Empire, influenced by Byzantine Style and characterized by the building of Churches with round arches not only in principal cities but in villages around the country.

Gothic: The difference with Early Medieval Style is the use of pointed arches instead of the round ones; the use of more elaborated Sculptures such as Gargoyles, more and bigger windows, and other influences from Moorish architecture.

Renaissance: Italian architects looked for new ideas and discovered some principles that helped them construct buildings with symmetrical arrangements, use of columns and pilasters, domes, niches with sculptures and painting in the ceiling of Chapels, the most famous in St. Peter’s Basilica by the famous Italian painter Michelangelo Buonarotti.

Baroque: Commonly known as Bizarre, because is one of the most extravagant styles, which elements had been spread around the world; in Italy the cause of this style was the aim of Popes to give special ornamentation to Churches and express holy splendor; and it influenced non-Christian buildings also.

Ancient buildings in the whole of Italy are related to one of these styles, with famous artists such as Andrea Palladio, Giacomo Vignola, Michelangelo Buonarotti, Giotto di Bondone, Raphael Sanzio, Filippo Brunelleschi and others.

ITALIAN ARCHITECTURE

The Greeks and Etruscans The Architecture in Italy had been influenced by Greek.	The Roman Period The Roman Period in Italy was outstanding and creative.	Early Christian and Byzanthine The Architecture during Early Christian and Byzantine Period in Italy was oriented to religion and pagan culture.

Romanesque The Romanesque Period in Italy was oriented to spread the Christian Gospel.	The Gothic Period The Architecture during Gothic Period in Italy was unique due to the pointed arches and bigger windows in churches.	The early Renaissance The during Early Renaissance Period in Italy was unique due to the rediscovery of classical styles.

The High Renaissance and Mannerism The High Renaissance and Mannerism was developed mainly in Italy.	The Baroque The Baroque Period was highly decorated, and the colossal scale of the buildings.	Neoclassicism The Neoclassicism used classical influences and Greco-Roman forms to create its own style.

The Twentieth Century The Twentieth Century shows the modernity of the period and emotions in a way never expressed before.