Romanesque architecture

Medieval European architectural style

Arts & Culture
Romanesque architecture
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Overview

What happened

April 18, 1334, marked the beginning of construction on Giotto's Campanile in Florence, Italy, a project that would take over 25 years to complete and f...

Date

April 18, 1334

Key people

Giotto, Giovanni Villani

Why it matters

This article provides a unique perspective on the construction of Giotto's Campanile, highlighting the complex and often fraught nature of human creativity and innovation, and the en...

What was Romanesque architecture?

Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries. The style eventually developed into the Gothic style with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Romanesque is characterized by semicircular arches, while the Gothic is marked by the pointed arches. The Romanesque emerged nearly simultaneously in multiple countries of Western Europe; its examples can be found across the continent, making it the first pan-European architectural style since Imperial Roman architecture. As is the case with Gothic, the name of the style was transferred onto the contemporary Romanesque art.

Romanesque architecture
Related books
English romanesque architecture cover English romanesque architecture Alfred Clapham · 1930 Carolingian and Romanesque architecture, 800 to 1200 cover Carolingian and Romanesque architecture, 800 to 1200 Kenneth John Conant · 1959 Architettura romanica cover Architettura romanica Hans Erich Kubach · 1972 Romanesque architecture in western Europe Alfred Clapham · 1936 Byzantine and Romanesque architecture cover Byzantine and Romanesque architecture Thomas Graham Jackson · 1913
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Background and consequences

Combining features of ancient Roman and Byzantine buildings and other local traditions, Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy pillars, barrel vaults, large towers and decorative arcading. Each building has clearly defined forms, frequently of very regular, symmetrical plan. The overall appearance is one of simplicity when compared with the Gothic buildings that were to follow.

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Related on thisDay

Giotto's Campanile — April 18, 1334

25 years of construction began with Giotto in 1334 Florence, Italy, forming a iconic Campanile that still stands today

Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Giotto's Campanile — April 18, 1334Wikipedia source
Cite this page
MLA

“Romanesque architecture.” thisDay, thisday.info/history/romanesque-architecture/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

APA

Romanesque architecture. (n.d.). thisDay. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://thisday.info/history/romanesque-architecture/

Chicago

“Romanesque architecture.” thisDay. Accessed October 19, 2026. https://thisday.info/history/romanesque-architecture/.

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