Italian architecture

Architecture of the Italian peninsula after the fall of the Roman Empire. In the earliest styles – Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic – the surviving buildings are mostly churches. From the Renaissance and baroque periods there are also palaces, town halls, and so on.

For Roman architecture in Italy, see Roman Architecture: Italy.

Byzantine (5th–11th centuries) Italy is rich in examples of this style of architecture, which is a mixture of oriental and classical elements; examples are the monuments of Justinian in Ravenna and the basilica of San Marco, Venice, about 1063. See also Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture: Italy.

Romanesque (10th–13th centuries) In northern Italy buildings in this style are often striped in dark and light marble; Sicily has Romanesque churches. See also Early Medieval and Romanesque Architecture: Italy.

Gothic (13th–15th centuries) Italian Gothic differs a great deal from that of northern Europe. Facades were elaborately decorated: mosaics and coloured marble were used, and sculpture placed around windows and doors. The enormous cathedral of Milan, 15th century, was built in the northern European style. See also Gothic Architecture: Italy .

Renaissance (15th–16th centuries) The style was developed by the Florentine Brunelleschi and his contemporaries, inspired by classical models. The sculptor Michelangelo is associated with the basilica of St Peter's, Rome. In Venice the villas of Palladio continued the purity of the High Renaissance. Other outstanding architects of the Renaissance include Bramante, Giulio Romano, Sangallo, Vignola, and Sansovino. See also Renaissance Architecture: Italy .

Baroque (17th century) The baroque style flourished with the oval spaces of Bernini (for example, the church of S Andrea al Quirinale, Rome) and Boromini, Cortona, and the fantasies of Guarini in Turin (such as the church of S Lorenzo). See also baroque architecture: Italy.

Neo-Classicism (18th–19th centuries) In the 18th century Italian architecture was less significant, and a dry classical revival prevailed. In the 19th century Neo-Classicism was the norm, as in much of Europe. See also neoclassical architecture: Italy.

20th century The Futurist visions of Sant'Elia opened the century. Between World Wars I and II pure modernism was explored (under the influence of Fascism) together with a stripped Classicism, as in the rationalism of Terragni. Nervi's work showed the expressive potential of reinforced concrete. Terragni and Gio Ponti pioneered the Modern Movement. Since the 1970s, neo-rationalism and a related concern with the study of the traditional types of European cities have exerted great influence, led by the work and writings of Aldo Rossi. High-tech architecture is represented by Renzo Piano. See also Italian Architecture: 20th Century.