Romanesque architecture developed in medieval Europe between the 6th and 12th centuries. It was influenced by several factors including the rise of Christianity, the Crusades, and the spread of monasticism. Key characteristics include thick walls, round arches, barrel vaults, and decorative arcading. The style varied across Italy depending on available building materials and local climate but commonly featured simple geometric forms and small windows. Examples include St. Michele in Pavia, known for its sandstone construction and clustered stone piers.

1. Romanesque Architecture
By Prof. Rohit Raul
Political Context and Influences
1. After and during the fall of the
Western Roman Empire, Christianity
had become one of the most
prominent religions there.
2. During the same time Islamic
powers rose in the Middle East
conquering the holy land (Jerusalem,
Bethlehem etc.).
3. A series of religiously sanctioned
military campaigns were waged by
western Christian Europe to restore
Christian Control over the Holy
Land.
4. The conquest sanctioned by the Pope
promised the people a guaranteed
place in heaven prompting a huge
population to answer the call.
5. This brought about movement of
people resulting in the spread of the
ideas and early roman style of
building prompting the “roman-like”
decoration of buildings known today
as Romanesque style of Buildings.
(Path of Crusading Armies)
(Crusading Armies)
Social Context and Influences
1. Christianity was the chief source of education and culture.
2. The monastic system came to prevalence and Christianity became an order with common ties
and a common rule, binding the people together and created mutually dependent community.
3. This also helped to control the infighting and control over Western Europe as their common
religion (Christianity) and way of life reduced disputes.
4. Disputed within the various small kingdoms of Western Europe would also be resolved with
the help of the pope.
5. The Church promoted new methods in agriculture and exercised influence on architecture, this
provided the common people to dedicate more time to church building activities.
6. Long trips to visit the relics of Saints were promoted allowed for the exchange of ideas,
including those of architecture and construction.
7. The Pilgrims’ way was filled with Romanesque churches, monasteries, inns, and castles to
service the travelers and also to protect them from bandits and other anti-social elements.
Romanesque architecture:
It is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no
consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to
the 11th century. The word "Romanesque" means "descended from Roman". Romanesque
architecture is known by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy pillars, barrel vaults,
large towers and decorative arcading.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 1 )

2. Typical Characteristics of Romanesque
Architecture.
1. Thick walls with a blocky, earthbound
appearance where stone was cut with
precision
2. large, simple geometric masses with
sturdy piers
3. The exterior reflects the interior structure
and organization and would include groin
vaults, Barrel vaults, large towers,
decorative arcading, etc.
4. Interiors tend to be dark because of the
massive walls that dictate small windows
5. Buildings exhibit simple exterior and
would exhibit Modest Height, Horizontal
lines could be observed on the exterior
(San Antonino, Piacenza, Italy)
6. OPENINGS:
a. Romanesque Architecture introduced the
wheel window.
b. The Door and window openings were
bordered by beautiful moldings. These
mounding decorations would usually be
influenced by Vegetative, animal or geometric
patterns.
(Interiors of St. Michele’s Pavia)
7. COLUMNS:
a. Romanesque Architecture would display
variation of the Corinthian and the Ionic
capital with a twisted shaft known as the
“scallop”
b. Classical roman Corinthian and ionic orders
could also be seen.
8. ROOF:
a. Used the dome which is normally found at
the intersection of the nave and transept.
b. Use of vaults and groin vaults developed
during the roman period would also be
prevalent.
(Basic Romanesque Capital)
9. ORNAMENT
a. Principal ornamentation were fresco
paintings. characteristic ornamentations in
sculpture, carvings and fresco painting usually
vegetables and animal forms although quiet
rare.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 2 )

3. (Stilted Arch) Segmented Arch
10. ARCHES
a. Semi Circular Arch- A round arch whose
intrados is a full semicircle.
b. Segmented Arch- a shallow arch or an arch
that is less than a semicircle.
c. Stilted Arch- An arch whose curve begins
above the impost line.
Romanesque Architecture Church building types
Characteristics:
• Monumental, trying to imitate the Roman models in the Pilgrimage churches.
• Small in country churches.
• Plans could be:
1. Basilica 2. Polygonal 3. Latin cross
Basilica: The term basilica In architectural signifies a building that has
similarities to the basilica structures of Ancient Rome, being of longitudinal
rather than central plan, having a central nave with an aisle on either side
separated by a colonnade, and an apse at one end. Basilicas do not usually
display pronounced transepts. Basilica
Cruciform ground plan or Latin cross: Most cathedrals and great
churches have a cruciform ground plan. In churches of Western European
tradition, the plan is usually longitudinal, in the form of the so-called Latin
cross, with a long nave crossed by a transept. The transept may be as
strongly projecting or not project beyond the aisles as in some examples. Cruciform
Church
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 3 )

4. Parts of A Typical Romanesque
Church
1.Nave:
The nave is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or
rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains
side aisles, as in a basilica-type building, the strict definition of the term "nave" is restricted to the
central aisle.
2. Chance:
The chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and
the sanctuary.
Aisle:
An aisle (also known as a lye or alley) is more specifically a passageway to either side of the nave
that is separated from the nave by colonnades or arcades, a row of pillars or columns.
Choir:
Choir is an area of a church designed to accommodate the liturgical singers, located in the chancel,
between the nave and the altar. In some churches the choir is separated from the nave by an
ornamental partition called a choir screen, or more frequently by a choir rail.
Transept:
A transept is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the edifice. In
churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building within the
Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architectural traditions. Each half of a transept is known
as a semi transept.
Chevete:
Small chapels built on the eastern end or the apse end of the church.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 4 )

5. Ambulatory:
Literally a place for walking, an ambulatory is a covered passage. Such passages are found around
the outside of monastic cloisters, but in church architecture the term usually refers to a walkway
behind the high altar, linking it with chapels at the east end of the church and with aisles either side
of the chancel.
(Section and elements of a typical Romanesque Church)
Clearstory Window:
A clerestory is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. The purpose is to admit
light, fresh air, or both. Historically, clerestory denoted an upper level of a Roman basilica or of the
nave of a Romanesque or Gothic church, the walls of which rise above the rooflines of the lower
aisles and are pierced with windows.
Triforium Gallery or Tribune:
A triforium is a shallow arched gallery within the thickness of an inner wall, above the nave of a
church or cathedral. It may occur at the level of the clerestory windows, or it may be located as a
separate level below the clerestory. Also called a "blind-story", the triforium looks like a row of
window frames without window openings.
Wheel window:
A round window with radiating spokes emanating from a central roundel or boss. The wheel window
is so named because its spokes resemble those of a cart wheel or modern bicycle wheel. Wheel
windows are a form of rounded windows popularly called rose windows, and were common from
the Norman period onwards.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 5 )

6. Italian Romanesque Architecture
Geological Aspects
A. North Italy:
• Clay bricks used together with marble gave it a very special character
• Venice through the Adriatic Sea could import high quality marble.
B. Central Italy:
• Tuscany had great mineral wealth and abundance of stone
• Marble was abundantly available in abundance, good quality brick manufacturing facilities were
also available to them.
• Building materials could also be acquired from classical ruins
C. South Italy:
• The mountains in south Italy and Sicily were rich in the supply of calcareous minerals such as
limestone and marble.
Climatic aspects:
A. North Italy:
• The climate would vary between extremely cold
and warm.
• Due to the presence of the Alps Mountain ranges
in the north cold winds and snow would sweep
across the northern part of Italy.
• Buildings in this climate would ideally have
steep pitched roof to deal with the snow. They
would also have thick walls to minimize heat
loss.
B. Central Italy:
• Brilliant sunshine was available throughout the
year demanding the designing of small windows
because of the sunlight and thick wall to prevent
the excess heating up of the building.
• The climate of central Italy would experience a
combination of the cold climate in the north and
warm and tropical climate in the south.
C. South Italy :
• The climate is almost subtropical with extremely warm summers.
• Buildings would display flatter roofs than what is seen in northern and southern Italy. Thick walls
would provide good insulation from heat
(Map of Italy Indicating the various climate zones)
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 6 )

7. Typical Example of North Italy:
St. Michele Pavia:
• The building is built out of sand stone giving it a reddish appearance, here stone piers divide the
space transitioning into massive groin vaults rising upwards.
• The nave is divided in square bays by transverse arches, the piers are clustered in appearance
and spread to receive the vaulting ribs.
• The plan is cruciform with well-defined transept and a raised choir.
• The aisles next to the nave are two stories in height, with vaulted square compartments.
• The Front elevation the flat façade shows little play of light and shade with its three simple
recessed portals and four vertical pilasters stripes from the ground gable same as buttresses.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 7 )

8. Typical Example of Central Italy:
Pisa Cathedral:
• It is one of the most famous group of buildings in the
world, comprising a cathedral, Baptistry, Campanile and
Camposanto.
• The cathedral itself is one of the finest examples of the
Romanesque period.
• The Cathedral displays a cruciform design with a long
nave with double isles on either sides.
• The ground story is marked with wall arcades and has red
and white marble bands.
• The entrance façade is divided by tiers rising one above
the other up to the gable end.
• The elliptical dome at the crossing of the nave and
transept was added at a later stage.
• The aesthetics of the cathedral is dependent upon its
massing and proportion and mot mush upon the
ornamentation of its façade. One of the key features of
Romanesque churches.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 8 )

9. Campanile Pisa (Leaning tower of Pisa):
• It is a bell tower of the Pisa cathedral, its circular in plan with a diameter of 16m reaching eight
stories high.
• The building resembles a classical roman style of elevation dominated by screen of semicircular
arches.
• It’s most well-known for its tilted or leaning and the top of the tower overhangs about 4.2 m from
the bottom making it look unstable.
• Its façade faced with marble gives it a very beautiful white appearance.
• The screen of arches covering the exterior creates a beautiful contrast as shadows form upon the
inner wall due to the screen of arches.
(View of Pisa Cathedral and Campanile)
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 9 )

10. Baptistery Pisa:
• The Baptistery is another circular building in the Pisa complex and is two stories high.
• In the Interior lies a central nave about 18.3 m wide and is surrounded by a central aisle.
• Externally the lower story is surrounded by half columns, connected by semicircular arches, at
the entrance door detached column shafts can be seen.
• The roof is crowning the structure hemispherical form, this supports an upper part which
truncates upwards like a cone but is capped with a small dome.
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 10 )

11. Typical Example of North Italy:
St. Nicola Bari:
• The church has a rather square appearance, seemingly more suited to a castle than to a church this
impression is strengthened by the presence of two low massive towers framing the façade.
• The interior has a nave and two aisles, divided by granite columns and pilasters.
• Above the aisles is a tribune gallery opening into the nave. The basilica was the first church of
this design, setting a precedent which was later imitated in numerous other constructions in the
region.
• This church shares fine masonry details including projecting porches, wheel windows and a
refinement of carved decoration which is a Greek tradition.
(Plan of St. Nicola Bari) (View of west work of St. Nicola Bari)
(Interior of St. Nicola Bari)
By Prof. Rohit Raul ( Pg.no. 11 )