Romanesque Architecture in Spain. 11th - 13th centuries

1. ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE
Main characteristics:

It starts in the 11th century

It ends in the 13th century or later.

It's the first European style. It can be found all around
Europe.
San Martín de Tours, Frómista
(Palencia)
San Martín de Tours, Frómista
(Palencia)

2. Architectural Characteristics

They recover the “round arch” used by the
Romans:

3.  The church is covered by stoned vaults, called
barrel vault, which is a succession of round
arches, one after another.

4. 
The structure is very heavy and as a
consequence:

Walls are thick

They need strong buttresses

They use few and small windows
Collegiate Church,
Toro (Zamora)
Collegiate Church,
Toro (Zamora)

5. Sensations
• Intimate Sensation
• Stability
• Spiritual Sensation
• Symbolism: Latin cross

8. Types of Vaults
Barrel vault: it was
used mainly to cover
the central nave
Groin vault was
common in aisles and
ambulatories
Dome: spherical shape. It was used in
apses. The central Dome could stand
on pendentives (pechina) or
squinches (trompa).
Cathedral of
Zamora. (Dome)
Cathedral of
Zamora. (Dome)

9. SAINT MARY OF LAACH (Germany)
12th
Century

10. SAINT MARY OF LAACH (Germany)
12th
Century