San Lorenzo--page 1 (of two pages)

Guarino Guarini
begun 1668; finished 1687





Exterior views

From the outside the tower looks like a drum, crowned by a second drum, topped by a dome. The surprise is on the inside.
 
 

Left: View of the nave; center and right: looking toward the entrance

The plan of the church is an octagon, with each of the eight sides curving into the center. The side opposite the door is extended into the altar, giving the circular plan a longitudinal axis. See the plan. Sixteen red marble columns march around the curving sides. Marble statues occupy the niches behind the columns.
 

Left: dome over altar;
center: decorative stucco molding under four of the arches


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© 2006 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.