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Guide to the History and Evolution of Christian Church Architecture
This guide to Christian architecture gives you an overview of the history of Christian religious architecture and serves as a reference guide for identifying defining architectural styles and how each style transformed over time.
In this Approach Guide, we explore the historical evolution of Christian religious architecture, with a particular focus on its Italian manifestations. We first examine the earliest forms of pre-Christian Greek and Roman “pagan” architecture, and its influences (the Egyptian and Mycenaen civilizations). We then take a deeper look at the Christian architectural tradition and provide detailed profiles of Early Christian, Byzantine, Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque church styles. For each style, we explore how it evolved over time, its influences, its characteristic design and structural elements, and quintessential examples.
This Approach Guide will be useful when visiting any Christian religious building, however, here are the most quintessential examples of Christian religious architecture.
- Greek architecture. Athens, Turkey (Ephesus and Didyma), Sicily (Agrigento and Selinunte), Paestum (Italy)
- Roman architecture. The best examples are found in Rome.
- Early Christian architecture. Rome, Milan, Jerusalem
- Byzantine architecture. Istanbul, Venice, Ravenna (Italy)
- Carolingian architecture. Corvey (Germany)
- Romanesque architecture. Conques (France), Milan, Pisa (Italy)
- Gothic architecture. Paris, Milan
- Renaissance architecture. Florence, Mantua (Mantova) (Italy)
- Baroque architecture. The best examples are found in Rome.
We hope you enjoy what we believe is a totally unique cultural guide to Christian architecture in Europe.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
One of the benefits of eBooks is that we can easily update content and release new editions of our guidebooks. These updates are FREE for existing customers. Please visit for a list of recently updated guides and instructions on downloading the new version.
PRAISE FOR APPROACH GUIDES
Compulsive (and compulsively informed) travelers, the Raezers are the masterminds behind the downloadable Approach Guides, which are filled with a university course-worth of history and insights for 62 destinations worldwide. WHY WE LOVE The Raezers share our desire for deep, well-researched information on the wonders of the world.
- Travel + Leisure
What started as one couple’s travel notes aimed at filling in the gaps in guidebooks has become ApproachGuides.com — a menu of downloadable travel guides that cover cultural and historical topics of interest to thoughtful travelers. What’s Bite-sized travel guides that specialize in topics ranging from 29 pages on the foods of Italy to one that helps you explore the historical and architectural significance of Angkor’s famous temple structures in Cambodia.
- LA Times
Approach Guides encompass the whole cultural experience of a place, whether it is Ancient Buddhist Caves in India and China, Islamic Cairo, Ancient Mediterranean Mosaics, or a Guide to the Regional Foods of Italy. Each guide delves into the subject, truly exploring it (and making you want to GO THERE NOW). Perfect for the thinking traveler, Approach Guides are one of the best travel guides I’ve ever found.
- Wandering Educators
In this Approach Guide, we explore the historical evolution of Christian religious architecture, with a particular focus on its Italian manifestations. We first examine the earliest forms of pre-Christian Greek and Roman “pagan” architecture, and its influences (the Egyptian and Mycenaen civilizations). We then take a deeper look at the Christian architectural tradition and provide detailed profiles of Early Christian, Byzantine, Carolingian, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque church styles. For each style, we explore how it evolved over time, its influences, its characteristic design and structural elements, and quintessential examples.
This Approach Guide will be useful when visiting any Christian religious building, however, here are the most quintessential examples of Christian religious architecture.
- Greek architecture. Athens, Turkey (Ephesus and Didyma), Sicily (Agrigento and Selinunte), Paestum (Italy)
- Roman architecture. The best examples are found in Rome.
- Early Christian architecture. Rome, Milan, Jerusalem
- Byzantine architecture. Istanbul, Venice, Ravenna (Italy)
- Carolingian architecture. Corvey (Germany)
- Romanesque architecture. Conques (France), Milan, Pisa (Italy)
- Gothic architecture. Paris, Milan
- Renaissance architecture. Florence, Mantua (Mantova) (Italy)
- Baroque architecture. The best examples are found in Rome.
We hope you enjoy what we believe is a totally unique cultural guide to Christian architecture in Europe.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
One of the benefits of eBooks is that we can easily update content and release new editions of our guidebooks. These updates are FREE for existing customers. Please visit for a list of recently updated guides and instructions on downloading the new version.
PRAISE FOR APPROACH GUIDES
Compulsive (and compulsively informed) travelers, the Raezers are the masterminds behind the downloadable Approach Guides, which are filled with a university course-worth of history and insights for 62 destinations worldwide. WHY WE LOVE The Raezers share our desire for deep, well-researched information on the wonders of the world.
- Travel + Leisure
What started as one couple’s travel notes aimed at filling in the gaps in guidebooks has become ApproachGuides.com — a menu of downloadable travel guides that cover cultural and historical topics of interest to thoughtful travelers. What’s Bite-sized travel guides that specialize in topics ranging from 29 pages on the foods of Italy to one that helps you explore the historical and architectural significance of Angkor’s famous temple structures in Cambodia.
- LA Times
Approach Guides encompass the whole cultural experience of a place, whether it is Ancient Buddhist Caves in India and China, Islamic Cairo, Ancient Mediterranean Mosaics, or a Guide to the Regional Foods of Italy. Each guide delves into the subject, truly exploring it (and making you want to GO THERE NOW). Perfect for the thinking traveler, Approach Guides are one of the best travel guides I’ve ever found.
- Wandering Educators
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2011
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