You’ve probably seen many of the famous renaissance architecture examples through movies made about famous renaissance artists and architects. The renaissance movement, financially supported by the aristocratic part of Italy, which became wealthy and prosperous thanks to trade at the beginning of the 15th century, showed its influence in many parts of the world, especially in Europe, until the end of the 16th century. Renaissance architecture, which derives from the Italian word “rinascita” meaning “rebirth”, first appeared in Italy. Afterwards, he fascinates himself with his impressive renaissance buildings created in many countries such as France, Germany and England.

In this article, we shared the famous renaissance architecture examples and their features. Here are the most famous renaissance buildings in Europe…

Note: You can read our “Renaissance Style Architecture Characteristics” article to learn the answers to questions ‘What is Renaissance?’, ‘When, where and how did Renaissance architecture emerge?’, ‘What are the characteristics of Renaissance architecture?’.

Famous Renaissance Buildings

1. Florence Cathedral, Florence, Italy

The Florence cathedral, which was built between 1296 and 1436, with its better known names “Duomo” or “Santa Maria del Fiore” was first designed as a gothic building. The cathedral, which has undergone different changes over a period of approximately 150 years, has taken its place in history as the first important renaissance building, with the completion of the unfinished dome by Flippo Brunelleschi, the first architect of the Renaissance period. Florence Cathedral, which is remembered by many of the known paintings with its dome and night lighting, is accepted by the whole world as a very important work for the city. At the same time, it has been one of the most defining icons for other Renaissance cities with its dome structure.

2. The Marciana Library / Library of Saint Mark, Venice, Italy

Located in Venice’s San Marco square, the Marciana library is architect Jacopo Sansovino’s best-known masterpiece. Built between 1537 and 1588, this library is a very important example of Venetian renaissance architecture. Known as one of the oldest surviving public libraries, the Marciana library still has one of the most impressive collections of classical texts in the world. The Marciana library now serves as a museum for tourists visiting Venice.

3. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, the first major basilica built in Florence, is known as one of the first important renaissance architecture examples in Italy. The façade of the building was designed in 1470 by the famous renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti. The basilica, which makes a difference with its elegant and proportional marble details, contains oil paintings of importantrRenaissance artists of the period.

4. St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy

St. Peter’s Basilica, known as “San Pietro’s Basilica”, is the most important building in the world among the famous renaissance buildings. St. Peter’s Basilica, which serves as the largest church of the Christian world in the Vatican, is established on an area of ​​23.000 m2 and has a capacity of approximately 60.000 people. Known for its magnificent dome, the building has a great importance for Christians.

To discover other historical buildings in Rome: Things to Do in Rome (Ultimate Travel Guide)

5. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy

The Uffizi museum, which is one of the most important and valuable museums in Italy and even in the world, was designed and started to serve as an office structure in the 1560s when it was first built. Later, in the 1580s, living areas were added to the building on the upper floors for families. The Uffizi Museum is one of the most visited art museums in Italy, with its two-storey structure with a “U” shaped plan. The museum, which contains many world-famous works of art, is home to the art collection of the famous Medici family. We would like to remind you that tickets must be purchased months in advance to visit this valuable museum located on the banks of the Arno river.

6. Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy

Another impressive renaissance building located in Florence, known as the capital of the renaissance. The palace, which was designed by the architect Brunelleschi as the living space of the Pitti family in 1458, is located on the south side of the Arno river. Pitti Palace was purchased by the Medici family in 1549 and for a long time hosted the rulers in Tuscany. The palace, which has a very large campus in Florence, was also used by Napoleon for a period in the 18th century. Pitti Palace, which has a very important history for the history of Italy and is one of the largest palaces of the renaissance period in Florence, serves as an art gallery open to the public today.

7. Château de Chambord, Chambord, France

Built in 1519 as a hunting lodge for Francis I, the castle is located in the north of France. The architect of this important building, which is among the architectural works of the French renaissance period, is not known for sure, but it is claimed that the design was made by Leonardo Da Vinci. The castle, which is quite large, has large gardens. On the roof of the castle, which is an architectural wonder, which has four large main towers; There are 11 different towers, 3 types of chimneys and several domes. The symmetry in its design is another striking feature of the building.

8. Basilica di San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy

Containing the architectural genius of Michelangelo and the last works of art by Donatello, the Basilica of San Lorenzo is considered one of the best renaissance buildings. The basilica, the construction of which began in 1419 under the direction of Brunelleschi, was completed in the 1480s. Located in the main market area in Florence city centre, this great basilica is also the burial place of all important members of the Medici family, from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III.

9. Schwerin Castle, Schwerin, Germany

The building, which was originally built as a castle in 1160, was revived as a palace in the mid-16th century on the basis of French renaissance architecture. It took its current form after the restoration made by Georg Adolph Demmler in the 19th century. Built on an island in Lake Schwerin, the palace has an extraordinary beauty that does not look like movie scenes. The palace, which is currently used as a state building, served as a school in the past.

10. Château de Chenonceau, Chenonceaux, France

This interesting work, which has the distinction of being the second most visited chateau in France after the Palace of Versailles, was built in the 16th century by the French renaissance architects Philibert de l’Orme and Jean Bullant. Consisting of a bridge and a castle on the river Cher, this structure is a mixture of late gothic architecture and renaissance architecture. The castle, which is open to the public with its castle and gardens, is an important visiting point in France.

Other Famous Renaissance Buildings

11. Château d’azay-le-Rideau, France

Located on an island in the middle of the Indre river, Château d’Azay-le-Rideau was built between 1518 and 1527 and is considered one of the most important works of architecture of the French renaissance period. The building, which was originally built as a castle in the 12th century, remained in ruins for a long time. Later, in 1518, it was purchased by the municipality of the period and it became the magnificent state it is today. The rebuilding process of the castle was very difficult as it did not have a hard and solid ground.

12. Heidelberg Palace, Heidelberg, Germany

The castle, which is the symbol of the city of Heidelberg, located in the north of the Alps in the south-west of Germany, was among the most important architectural works of the renaissance period when it was built. At an altitude of 80 meters on the north side of the Königstuhl slope, the castle has an impressive view of the entire old city centre. The great lightnings that struck the castle in 1537 and 1764 caused great damage to this beautiful structure. Only a certain part of the castle, which was damaged as a result of various wars and destructions, was rebuilt and continues to serve the visitors today.

13. Johannisburg Palace, Aschaffenburg, Germany

Located in the Bavarian region of Germany, the Johannisburg Palace is one of the most famous renaissance buildings of Germany. The palace, which was built by architect Georg Ridinder between 1605 and 1614 as the second residence of Mainz Archbishop Johann Schweikhard von Kronberg, has a very impressive architecture.

14. El Escorial, Madrid, Spain

Located on the slope of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain in the Madrid region, this monastery was built by the Spanish as St. Due to the defeat of the French in the Quentin War, the king of the period II. It was built by Felipe to symbolize the power of the Spanish monarchy. The monastery, which was started to be built in 1563 by the architect Juan Bautista de Toledo, was completed in 1584. The building, which is also one of the largest libraries in the world, preserves a large number of Arabic manuscripts.

15. V. Palace of Charles, Granada, Spain

In 1492, a great power changed hands in the region with the capture of Granada by the Spaniards. At that time, the Spanish monarchy was ruled from within the Alhambra palace in Granada. However, Karl V wanted to have a new palace built within the Alhambra palace. This palace, designed by Pedro Machuca and reflecting the architecture of different periods, could not serve its purpose and host the monarchy. Even the roof of the palace was completed in 1957.

16. Queen’s House, London, England

The building, which the famous architect Inigo Jones, known for his works on renaissance architecture in England, started to design after his great tour of Italy, was built as a royal residence between 1616 and 1635 and made a difference with its unique architecture in its period. The ‘Queen House’ built in the Greenwich area today serves as a maritime museum. The building, which is also used for special events, awaits its visitors in London with all its beauty.

17. Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, England

Built between 1590 and 1597 by Robert Smythson, one of the famous British architects of the Renaissance period, this beautiful country house is one of the best renaissance buildings. Perched on a hill between Chesterfield and Mansfield overlooking the Derbyshire countryside, Hardwick Hall was built by Hardwick Bess, who was the wealthiest woman in England at the time after Elizabeth. The country house, which serves as a museum today, is open to visitors.

18. Villa Farnese, Caprarola, Italy

This building, which is one of the famous renaissance buildings with its interesting entrance, is located in the north of Lazio in Italy. Its construction began in 1559. The villa, which draws attention with its reddish stones, was built in the form of a structure with a pentagonal plan. A part of the building, which was designed more simply as a reaction to the ornate early examples of the renaissance, is open to visitors.

19. Krasiczyn Castle, Krasiczyn, Poland

The building, which was started to be built as a castle in 1580, was completed in 1633 as one of the most beautiful renaissance buildings in Poland, with the impressive touches of the Italian architect Galeazzo Appiani. Krasiczyn Castle stands out with its regular architectural structure and exterior made of white stones. The building, which was damaged in the 2nd World War, now welcomes its visitors through the hotel next to it.

In this article, we shared the most famous renaissance buildings in Europe. If there are any other famous renaissance architecture examples that you think should be on our list, please share them with us in the comments. Don’t forget to visit our homepage for inspiration on different topics related to interior design & architecture! 🙂

This Article Famous Renaissance Buildings in Europe Was Originally Published on This Website: DeCombo. The Source of the Article is This Website.

What is Renaissance?

The word Renaissance originated as a derivative of the Italian word ‘Rinascita’ / ‘Rinascimento’. This word, which means “rebirth” in Italian, was formerly used as a religious term for purification from sins. The word ‘Rinascita’ was first used in an architectural sense by the famous art historian Giorgio Vasari when referring to Renaissance architecture in his work “Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects” published in 1550. The word ‘Renaissance’ was first encountered in the book “The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy” published by Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt in 1860.

In this article, we will examine the details of Renaissance architecture, which is the most important architectural style of the period after Gothic architecture.

Note: Don’t forget to read our article on architectural history from prehistory to the present!

Renaissance Architecture History

When and Where Did Renaissance Style Architecture Emerge?

Renaissance style architecture, which is reflected in the 15th century world, which is reflected in the world of basic art and culture, which belongs to Rome and ancient Greek civilizations; In the early 15th century, Italy has emerged in the Toscana area and then spread to all Europe, in France, Germany, England towards the middle of the 16th century. The overall effect of the Renaissance current is not limited to architecture only; It was also common in literature, pictures, statues, science and technical areas.

“Flippo Brunelleschi” is accepted as the first architect of the Renaissance period. Brunelleschi has revealed the first major Renaissance architectural works of the period by completing Florence Cathedral designed according to the half-term gothic stylus features in the period. Creating and placing the general rules of Renaissance architecture, Leon Battista Alberti and were blasted. In addition, the most important representatives of this architecture can be counted as Donato Bramante, Rafaello Sanzio and Michelangelo Buonarrotti.

Why and How Did the Renaissance Architecture Emerge?

Instead of a single state in the 15th century Italian peninsula; There were many independent dashes, republics and kingdoms in constant competition. In these periods, in particular economic richness in Italy, and the developments in urbanization in this parallel has brought together social and cultural changes. The gothic period, which is dominated by religious life, gradually exhausted a period of science and art to be speaking more. Especially the rich traders living in Florence and Bankers – especially medicis -, have started to work with famous architects and artists for their own living areas and the beauty of their cities. In this period, the philosophy, physics, which were revealed by ancient Greek civilizations in this period, was also popular in the fields of mathematics.

How Did the Renaissance Architecture Spread?

When explaining the Renaissance architecture, it is necessary to mention the direct organic relationship with the concept of Humanism. Humanism, which is going to the ancient grade; With Socrates, he has been the center of the “human philosophical thinking” and the protagoras is the basis of the philosophy that stretches to these days by saying “human being all things”. With the increase in richness in the Renaissance period, the interest of the society has turned away from God and the human’s essence, and the priority has always started to spread humanist philosophy.

In this period, the dogmas of scholastic thought collapsed; scientific skepticism and scientific techniques came to the fore. The personality of the artist began to come to the fore in the works with the gaining of human importance. With the decrease in the influence of religion on art, artists began to produce works other than religion and to produce more architectural works, paintings, sculptures, and works focused on philosophy.

Again, as a result of the discoveries that coincided with this period, people sailed to new horizons. The spread of the Renaissance movement was quite rapid, with paper, printing, and other new technologies found. In parallel with all these effects, the concepts of religious difference came to the fore and new churches such as Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant emerged.

Renaissance Architecture Characteristics

The foundation of the Renaissance architecture is based on the detailed examination of the buildings of the Roman Empire and the works of writers and philosophers of that period. The most important source on this subject is the 10-volume work “De architectura“, written in 100 AD by the Roman architect Vitruvius, in which he describes architecture and urban design. The book was translated into Latin and later into other languages ​​by the famous architect of the period, Leon Batista Alberti, as “Ten Books on Architecture“. The book, which has become the holy book of Renaissance architects, is a very extensive source of information; geometric and symmetrical forms, the aesthetic definition of the building, the harmony of architectural elements with each other and with each other, and many other important concepts. In the third volume of his work, Vitruvius stated that the ideal ratio systems in architecture are in the perfect proportions of the human body, based on the ratio of the different parts of the human body to each other and to the human height. Today, this concept emerges as the “Golden Ratio“.

The Renaissance architecture characteristics, which were shaped in parallel with all these variables mentioned above, are briefly as follows;

• Arrangements were made in the architecture of the buildings according to easily understandable numerical ratios.
• The external appearances of the structures usually consist of simple geometric shapes such as cubes and parallelepipeds.
• The main material of the architecture is stone, but brick was used in the raised domes. In addition, marble was preferred for columns and decoration.
• Influenced by ancient architecture, classical elements were used. However, due to the architectural structure of stone-brick mixture, ancient elements were only used decoratively on the facades.
• The architecture of the buildings was planned in a horizontally developed form in accordance with the human scale.
• The circle form symbolizing the perfection of God and also the square form became the ideal form of the church plans.
• Instead of cross vaults on top of each other, cradle vaults, which are more easily applied in terms of construction, were used.
• There are arches opening into each other in the windows.
• Ancient architectural elements such as columns, eaves, triangular pediments and pilasters were used together or separately.
• Lighting has gained importance, it has been used in a directive way, not randomly.
• By using horizontal moldings, a multi-storey and high impression is created in the buildings.
• Semicircular arches are used.
• Urbanism of the Renaissance period was based on a radial planning that opens outward from the center.
• Contrary to the architectural weight of Romanesque and Gothic in the cathedral buildings; Renaissance style architecture was also seen in different building types such as palaces, mansions and social buildings.
• Painting, sculpture and architecture took place in the buildings as intertwined concepts.
• Horseman statues decorate the center of the squares.

What are the Differences Between Gothic and Renaissance Architecture?

• The basis of Renaissance architecture is man, the basis of Gothic architecture is religion.
• Renaissance architectural works are mostly civil buildings like palaces and villas built for wealthy merchants and aristocrats; The majority of Gothic architectural structures are religious buildings.
• In the Renaissance architecture style, the buildings were developed horizontally, while in the Gothic architecture, all the buildings stretched towards the sky.
• Semicircular arches were used in Renaissance architecture; In Gothic architecture, pointed arches dominate the building.
• Towers were used in Gothic architectural structures; In Renaissance architecture, towers were replaced by domes.
• Lighting in Gothic architecture is not systematic; however, the lighting in Renaissance architecture was planned for a specific purpose.
• In Renaissance style architecture, painting and sculpture are a very important part of the whole; Gothic architecture does not have this detail.

Renaissance Architecture Examples from Europe

Italian Renaissance Architecture:

Italy has been the center of this architecture with its wealthy aristocrats and world-famous architects. The center of the period called the Early Renaissance (1420-1500) was Florence. The period when Rome was more active between 1500 and 1530 is expressed as the High Renaissance period. In the years 1530 – 1600, when Renaissance architecture began to be influenced by the Baroque, the Mannerism movement emerged.

Throughout all these years, countless Renaissance architectural works have emerged in Italy, and the vast majority of them form the basis of Italian tourism today. Famous architect and sculptor Michelangelo Buonarrotti is the first thing that comes to mind when the Renaissance is mentioned. Here are some of Michelangelo’s works:

French Renaissance Buildings:

In the early years of the 16th century, the French and Italians were at war in northern Italy. The French brought not only valuable pieces as war spoils, but also Renaissance architectural style.

Germany:

The Renaissance in Germany started when philosophers and artists such as Albrecht Dürer and Johannes Reuchlin, who visited Italy frequently in the 15th and 16th centuries, used inspiration from Italy in their works. The process accelerated as Renaissance humanism began to be heard in many German cities and towns.

Spanish Renaissance Architecture:

In Spain, the Renaissance began to show its effects by infiltrating Gothic works at the end of the 15th century. The Renaissance style architecture, which began to be used mostly by local architects, developed its own style in Spain. This movement, which emerged between the end of Gothic and the first period of the Renaissance and attracted attention with its highly decorated facades, was named ‘Plateresque’. With the decrease of Gothic influences in the 16th century, works in which Renaissance architecture was more dominant began to emerge.

England:

England met with Renaissance architecture during the reign of Elizabeth I. Inigo Jones, who has worked on architecture for a long time in Italy, is one of the most famous advocates of this movement in England. When he returned to his country; reflecting this passion in his works, he created many important Renaissance works with clean lines and different symmetry.

In this article, we tried to briefly answer the questions of ‘What is renaissance architecture‘ and ‘What are renaissance style architecture characteristics‘. For more renaissance style buildings, read our article on “Famous Renaissance Architecture Examples“. Don’t forget to visit our homepage for inspiration on different topics related to interior design & architecture! 🙂

This Article Renaissance Style Architecture Characteristics & Examples Was Originally Published on This Website: DeCombo. The Source of the Article is This Website.