The Sistine Chapel or the “Capella Sistina” is one of the must-visit places. The superb features have grabbed the attention of not just the typical tourist but that of notable artists. In fact, according to the famous German poet, novelist and scientist, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.”

The capella is located in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope. Technically, the chapel achieved its popularity from its elaborate decorations – primarily, the frescoes which were furnished by some of the grandest Renaissance artists. Among all the frescoes of the place, the most notable sections are the ceiling frescoes made by the legendary Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Aside from the designs however, the chapel that is named after Pope Sixtus IV also became famous because of its architectural design. Based on historical narratives, the Sistine Chapel architecture evokes Solomon’s Temple which was described in the Old Testament. The place is now a site that’s highly reserved for papal religious and functionary activity – such as the “conclave”, wherein the new Pope will be selected.

The exterior

Basically, its exterior are a bit plain and there are no intricate decorative details. Taking the view from the outside, the chapel just appears as a towering rectangular brick building that pretty much looks like common Italian Medieval churches. There are six tall windows vaulted at the sides and ends of the place. Other than these, another fairly noticeable exterior feature is the presence of pantile tiles used for roofing.

The elegance of the Sistine Chapel architecture is not very apparent from the outside. There are no exterior facades or processional passageways. The absence of exterior designs, however, is largely because of the fact that access to the chapel is from the rooms and doorways in the Apostolic Palace.

Greek architecture became much promising only after Greece prospered during the 7th century BC. However, as noted by Krysta Cardinale, an expert in ancient Greek architecture, early Greek structures were too fickle. They were made out of mud and wood, which were undeniably too fragile to withstand the passage of centuries. As such, most of today’s knowledge on Greek architecture was only derived from the structures which survived the Hellenistic and Roman era.

The major architecture orders

Basically, the architectural styles that became popular during the Classical Greek period are divided into three major orders – Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Each of these orders has different characteristics used in temple structures and column designs.

Doric Order: This is considered as the basic ancient Greek architecture which was popularized by the Spartans. In its early forms, Doric order houses made use of wooden shafts. However, recent developments in construction introduced the use of stronger materials such as stone. For the roofs, the Spartans use a variety of thatch, terra-cotta, and marble. Temples under the Doric order have similar layouts as those that fall under the Ionic order.

Ionic Order: Ionic order temples were regarded as “developed” Doric designs. They had slender columns which were typically eight to nine meters high instead of the usual four to five meters. Unlike the Doric temples, Ionic structures also have molded bases where sculptures are often placed. As for the upper part of the columns, they had rectangular stone blocks with line engravings.

Corinthian Order: Temples that are classified under the Corinthian order were far more “decorative” as compared to the other two. Aside from the lines, Corinthian columns had more elaborate engravings. The bases often appear sculpted and carved with various fancy impressions.

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is regarded as the largest temple around the globe. However, for architecture experts, this place of worship is much more than just a temple for the Khmer people. For those interested in structural design, the Angkor Wat is “the supreme masterpiece of Khmer architecture.” This place signifies the union of history, faith and cultural development and it is not quite surprising why it is also the biggest tourist attraction in Cambodia.

As noted by Maurice Glaize, one of the conservators of the Angkor Wat architecture, the structure “attains a classic perfection by the restrained monumentality of its finely balanced elements and the precise arrangement of its proportions. It is a work of power, unity and style.”

General description

The Angkor Wat architecture has two enclosures. The first field is comprised of four rooms arranged in a series that appears much like a cruciform. As most visitors observe, the typical feature of every room is the sunken flooring. All of the rooms are also bordered by continuous galleries.

As for the striking inner enclosure, this is built against a two tiered pyramid that is eleven meters high. The pyramid is decorated with steep stairs. There are five towers that protrude on the upper tier. There is also a continuous gallery that surrounds another cruciform of four rooms. Since the shrines that used to occupy the rooms have already been damaged, they look more like passageways nowadays.

What makes the temple very unique?