Gothic Architecture:Italy

In Italy, the home of the Roman tradition, Gothic architecture did not reach the level of integrated development that it attained in France and England (see Gothic Architecture: France and Gothic Architecture: England), especially as regards boldness and logicality in buttressing and vaulting; but it was usually a close relative of Early Christian and Romanesque architecture with wider spans and pointed arches. Some of its cathedrals (for example Siena and Orvieto) have zebra stripes of black or red and white marble, a fashion derived from further east; other features are of ‘Saracenic’ origin.

The following are the principal Italian examples. In Venice: the churches of SS Giovanni e Paolo (1234 onwards) and of the Frari (1250-80); the Doge's Palace (1309-1424), and the Ca d'Oro (1421), Foscari and Pisani palaces on the Grand Canal. In Florence: the cathedral (1296 onwards); the Campanile (1334-87) by Giotto; S Maria Novella (1278-1350); S Croce (1294-1442); Or S Michele (1356-1404); the Bigallo loggia (1352-58); the Loggia dei Lanzi (1376); the Palazzo Vecchio (1298); the Palazzo del Podesta (1255). In Assisi: S Francesco (1228-53). In Milan: the cathedral (1386-1435). In Orvieto: the cathedral (1280-1310; facade around 1310). In Siena: the cathedral (1245-1380; facade by Giovanni Pisano, 1284) and S Francesca (1326). In Pisa: the Campo Santo (1278-83), and the beautiful S Maria della Spina (1323). In Bologna: S Francesco (1236) and S Petronio (1390-1437). In Padua: S Antonio (1237-1307). In Pavia: the Certosa (1396-1481). The town halls of Siena (1288) and Perugia (1283). In Verona: S Anastasia (1261). The only old Gothic church in Rome is S Maria sopra Minerva (1280).

For later Italian architecture, see Renaissance Architecture: Italy and Italian architecture.