Church of San Giorgio Maggiore

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San Giorgio Maggiore is a church in Venice, Italy designed by Andrea Palladio and located on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

Begun in 1566, the church was not entirely finished before the death of Palladio in 1580. The façade was continued by Vincenzo Scamozzi based on the original architect's designs and completed in 1610. The church, sometimes designated as a basilica, is a prime example of Palladio's architectural style, and one of the finest churches he designed. The interior is very bright with massive pilasters on undecorated, white-surfaced walls, creating an interior that expresses the Classical feel of a Renaissance design. The façade also is brilliantly white and represents Palladio's sollution to the problem of adapting a Classical temple motif with the form of the Christian church with its high nave and low side isles by placing a wide pediment across the top of the isles with the architrave continuing across the church facade, whilst the nave supports its narrower pediment atop monumental pilasters.

[edit] References

• Hartt, Frederick, David G. Wilkins. History of Italian Renaissance Art. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.