Summary
Highlights
The 16th century saw Rome become the epicenter of Renaissance architecture, influenced by Brunelleschi and Alberti. Donato Bramante, inspired by Roman works, developed a mature style characterized by purity of architectural elements and less ornamentation. His notable works include the Tempietto of San Pietro in Montorio and his ambitious, though uncompleted, design for the new St. Peter's Basilica, featuring a central dome and four smaller ones.
The 16th century also marked the construction of villas outside cities, as aristocratic families moved away from urban centers due to growth and sanitary issues. Examples include the Palazzo Medici, with its three-story facade and rustication symbolizing wealth, and the Palazzo Farnese. Andrea Palladio excelled in designing villas like the Villa Rotonda, which seamlessly integrated with its surroundings and featured symmetrical porticos and a dome inspired by the Pantheon. These villas, despite lacking fortifications, drew design influences from castles and even inspired colonial architecture in North America.
The final phase of the Renaissance is known as Mannerism, a period where architectural ideals of classical beauty were abandoned in favor of the artist's personal tastes. Architectural elements were used more for decoration than function. The Palazzo del Te by Giulio Romano is a prime example of Mannerist villas, featuring a two-story residence, a cloister-style courtyard, and a significant emphasis on the garden's role in the composition.
Michelangelo, one of history's greatest artists, undertook the monumental task of completing St. Peter's Basilica in his old age. He modified Bramante's original Greek cross plan, giving the dome a more elevated profile and unifying the overall design with his personal style. Though he did not live to see its completion, his work was finalized by Domenico Fontana and Giacomo della Porta, who also contributed to the facade of the Church of the Gesu.
Renaissance architecture was not confined to Italy but spread across Europe, adapting to local influences. In Spain, three stages emerged: Plateresque, blending Gothic traditions with Florentine and Lombard ornamentation; Purism, emphasizing structural elements like those in ancient Greece, exemplified by Pedro Machuca's Palace of Charles V; and Herrerian, characterized by straight lines and cubic volumes, eschewing ornamentation.
This new generation of architects sought to break away from the homogeneous rules of Renaissance architecture, creating a bridge to the new style that was about to emerge: Baroque.