Church Architecture

Palermo Cathedral
1184 Architecture

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.

Palma Cathedral in Mallorca, Spain
1229-1601 Architecture

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The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, more commonly referred to as La Seu, is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Palma, Mallorca, Spain, built on the site of a pre-existing Arab mosque.

Designed in the Catalan Gothic style but with Northern European influences, it was begun by King James I of Aragon in 1229 and finished in 1601.

Pantheon
Artist: Apollodorus of Damascus (Trajan's architect)
114 Architecture

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The Pantheon in the city of Rome is an Ancient Roman temple that was repurposed as a Catholic Church in the 7th century. The church was dedicated to “St. Mary and the Martyrs” and is commonly known as the “Santa Maria Rotonda.” The original temple was constructed as early as the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus but was rebuilt several times, first by Trajan and finally completed by Hadrian in the year 126 A.D. The main building is famous because it has an opening at the top of its massive dome.

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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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