Church Architecture

Old Cathedral of Coimbra
Architect: Master Robert, Master Bernard and Master Soeiro
1139 - early 13th Century Architecture

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The Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra) is a Romanesque Roman Catholic building in Portugal. Construction began some time after the Battle of Ourique (1139), when Prince Afonso Henriques declared himself King of Portugal and chose Coimbra as capital.

Oliwa Cathedral
12th Century - - Second half of the 14th century Architecture

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Oliwa, Gdańsk Archcathedral is a church in Oliwa, Gdańsk, Poland that is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Also known as the Archcathedral Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Oliwa, Gdańsk

Palermo Cathedral
1184 Architecture

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Palermo Cathedral is the largest Norman cathedral in Sicily. The area where Palermo Cathedral now stands has always been a sacred place for the inhabitants of the area. In early Christian times, there was a sanctuary here and in the 4th century a basilica, which was destroyed in 452 during the Vandal invasion. It was rebuilt between 590 and 604 but, following the Muslim conquest of Sicily, the building was turned into a mosque. After the Arabs’ defeat, it became a Catholic place of worship again and was enlarged to include two additional chapels. In 1169, however, an earthquake severely damaged the basilica, which was later rebuilt during the reign of William II. Over the course of several centuries, Palermo Cathedral underwent several changes but always maintained its structure.

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When we think of Christian architecture, we may picture towering cathedrals with intricate stained-glass windows, but the roots of this style are much more humble. The earliest Christian structures were not grand, but rather simple house churches. As Christianity grew, its places of worship grew in size and intricacy.

The transition from early Christian to medieval architecture paralelled societal and religious changes. The Romanesque style, characterized by its rounded arches and massive walls, was followed by the Gothic style with its pointed archs, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.

Christian architecture has created some of the world’s most iconic structures. These buildings all share a common thread: they are physical manifestations of the Christian faith.

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