木鲁 Kirubel 18103110172

Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture, architectural style current in Europe from about the mid-11th
century to the advent of Gothic architecture. A fusion of
Roman, Carolingian and Ottonian, Byzantine, and local Germanic traditions, it was a product of
the great expansion of monasticism in the 10th–11th century. Larger churches were needed to
accommodate the numerous monks and priests, as well as the pilgrims who came to view
saints’ relics. For the sake of fire resistance, masonry vaulting began to replace timber
construction.

Romanesque churches characteristically incorporated semicircular arches for windows, doors,

and arcades; barrel or groin vaults to support the roof of the nave; massive piers and walls, with
few windows, to contain the outward thrust of the vaults; side aisles with galleries above them; a
large tower over the crossing of nave and transept; and smaller towers at the church’s western
end. French churches commonly expanded on the early Christian basilica plan, incorporating
radiating chapels to accommodate more priests, ambulatoriesaround the sanctuary apse for
visiting pilgrims, and large transepts between the sanctuary and nave.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the piazza’s crowning glory.

Although only a third as high as the Washington Monument, it was a miracle of medieval
engineering, probably the tallest bell towers in Europe.
With 207 columns ranged around eight stories, Tower of Pisa looks like a massive wedding cake
knocked precariously askew by a clumsy giant guest.
The construction of Tower of Pisa began in August 1173 and continued for about 200 years due
to the onset of a series of wars. Till today, the name of the architect is a mystery.
Leaning Tower of Pisa and CathedralThe leaning Tower of Pisa was designed as a circular bell
tower that would stand 185 feet high. It is constructed of white marble.
The tower has eight stories, including the chamber for the bells.
The bottom story consists of 15 marble arches. Each of the next six stories contains 30 arches
that surround the tower.
The final story is the bell chamber itself, which has 16 arches. There is a 297 step spiral staircase
inside the tower leading to the top.
The top of the leaning tower of Pisa is about 17 feet off the vertical.
The tower is also slightly curved from the attempts by various architects to keep it from leaning
more or falling over.
Many ideas have been suggested to straighten the Tower of Pisa, including taking it apart stone
by stone and rebuilding it at a different location.
In the 1920s the foundations of the tower were injected with cement grouting that has stabilized
the tower to some extent.
Until recent years tourists were not allowed to climb the staircase inside the tower, due to
consolidation work.