A useful resource for architecture students travelers and anyone interestedin our religious heritage this volume documents the worlds most importantcathedrals f... » 

A useful resource for architecture students travelers and anyone interestedin our religious heritage this volume documents the worlds most importantcathedrals from their early Christian Romanesque and Gothic origins throughtheir evolution during the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the styles of themodern age. Spanning the globe the monuments in this volume have been selectedfor their exceptional historical value aesthetic attributes and architecturalsignificance. From St. Marks Basilica in Venice which was constructed in1050 to the 2003 opening of Richard Meiers Jubilee Church in Rome thesechurches embody a vast range of architectural styles. Fullcolor photographsvividly convey the colorful turbanshaped domes of St. Basil in Moscow theornate stone carvings and gargoyles of Notre Dame and the opulent frescoes andgold gilt ceiling of St. Marks Basilica. The photography also evokes theunique qualities of the settings of each cathedral whether situated in themiddle of a bustling city square or in a more remote natural setting. FromPhilip Johnsons Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove California to LondonsWestminster Cathedral to Helsinki Cathedral in Finland this book demonstratesthe aweinspiring architecture and interiors that make these churches worldtreasures. «