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The Italian Buildings and Monuments ClipArt gallery includes 181 illustrations of churches, cathedrals, palaces, government buildings, major monuments and other famous structures in Italy and the Holy See.

"The decoration of the interiors of the buildings of the Renaissance is also copied from ancient Roman architecture. The rooms are either vaulted or have flat ceilings, but in both cases are adorned with paintings after the manner of those discovered in the Baths of Titus, or by panel-work, that is, sunken coffers with a regularly distributed enrichment [shown here]. These panels are themselves often adorned with historical or allegorical paintings, or with arabesques. Ornamented panels were employed in large palaces for horizontal ceilings, as also in churches, though in the latter case they were more often applied to cupola vaulting, as notable in St. Peter's."

Interior View of St. Peter's at Rome

"The decoration of the interiors of the buildings of the Renaissance is also copied from ancient Roman…

"Michel-Angelo assumed such considerable and prominent position by his genius and authority, that his example necessarily entailed imitation and produced effects on subsequent times. When his deviations were moderate, they were considered by his imitators merely as marks of the originality of his wonderful talent, and by this means proved stepping-stones to the degeneration which marked the ensuing period of the Roccoco style. Amongst his architectural works, the design of the Capitol at Rome, with its wings, may be considered as the most pleasing, whilst as a testimony to his lofty genius the mighty and glorious dome of St. Peter's at Rome, which has no rival in the world, must be adducted as a striking instance. This dome was only completed after Michel-Angelo's death. Both as regards its colossal dimensions, as well as its beautiful proportions and lines, it produces, both internally and externally, a most wonderful impression. It should be remarkable that Michel-Angelo, like Bramante before him, selected the form of the Greek cross for his church, and planned the dome accordingly, and that the nave, which is by Carlo Maderno, is, both externally and internally, prejudicial to the effect of the dome."The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter (Latin: Basilica Sancti Petri), officially known in Italian as the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St. Peter's Basilica, is located within the Vatican City. St. Peter's has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, holding 60,000 people. It is regarded as one of the holiest Christian sites and has been described as "holding a unique position in the Christian world" and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom". In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession.

Back View of St. Peter's, Rome

"Michel-Angelo assumed such considerable and prominent position by his genius and authority, that his…

The pantheon at Rome is a temple that was built to all the gods of Ancient Rome. It was built by Marcus Agrippa Roman statesman, general, and son-in-law to Emperor Caesar Augustus. The structure has a circular body with columns and a dome that covers the ceiling.

The Pantheon at Rome

The pantheon at Rome is a temple that was built to all the gods of Ancient Rome. It was built by Marcus…

This image "presents a type of the majority of the palaces if the Roman Renaissance style, at least so far as regards the architectural features and their arrangement; for the most important palaces in this style are both more imposing by their great length, whilst at the same time they are less simple and less correct in their details." The Verospi Palace, or The Palazzo Verospi, is located on the main street in Rome, the Via Del Corso.

Verospi Palace, Rome

This image "presents a type of the majority of the palaces if the Roman Renaissance style, at least…

St. Peter's and the Vatican, Rome, 1901

St. Peter's and the Vatican

St. Peter's and the Vatican, Rome, 1901

"The creations of Alberti form a class apart in Florentine palace architecture, for they do not display the peculiarities of the Florentine style, but rather accommodating the forms of the antique to more modern requirements, they pointed out the road which was followed by the Roman Renaissance style, especially at the commencement of the sixteenth century. As will be seen from (this image,) these buildings are, to a certain extent, free from medièval sympathies, and approach more closely to the classical models."

Rucellai Palace

"The creations of Alberti form a class apart in Florentine palace architecture, for they do not display…

"Interior of S. Clemente in Rome." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

S. Clemente

"Interior of S. Clemente in Rome." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

S. Paolo, a cloister example, is found in Rome, Italy.

S. Paolo

S. Paolo, a cloister example, is found in Rome, Italy.

"San Clemente is an excellent example of the primitive church. The side enterance generally used is in the Via S. Giovanni. The main enterance, in the Via S. Clemente, opens on to an atrium with a colonnade of Ionic columns." — Young, 1901

Interior of San Clemente

"San Clemente is an excellent example of the primitive church. The side enterance generally used is…

"Interior of the Basilica of San Paolo, Rome." —D'Anvers, 1895

Basilica of San Paolo

"Interior of the Basilica of San Paolo, Rome." —D'Anvers, 1895

"Sant Apollinare in Classe, at Ravenna." —D'Anvers, 1895

Sant Apollinare

"Sant Apollinare in Classe, at Ravenna." —D'Anvers, 1895

"Section of the Church of S. Constantia at Rome. The simplest desctiptions of this kind of building are the baptistries, for which the ancient Thermæ furnished models. They generally have a circular or octagonal ground plan, a main space covered with a round or polygonal dome, and a circular passage separated therefrom by pillars in the same way that the side aisles are separated from the main aisle in basilicas. Sometimes they were without this passage, and only had galleries running round the interior like boxes in a theater. These buildings were generally constructed in the vicinity of cathedrals.

Santa Costanza

"Section of the Church of S. Constantia at Rome. The simplest desctiptions of this kind of building…

Santa Maria in Cosmedin is a minor basilica church in Rome, Italy.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Santa Maria in Cosmedin is a minor basilica church in Rome, Italy.

Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome built shortly after the time of Constantine.

Santa Maria Maggiore

Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome built shortly after the time of Constantine.

Sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, an elected Roman consul in 298 BC.

Sarcophagus of Scipio Barbatus

Sarcophagus of Lucius Cornelius Scipio Barbatus, an elected Roman consul in 298 BC.

"Temple of Saturn, Tabularium and Tower of Capitol." — Young, 1901

Temple of Saturn

"Temple of Saturn, Tabularium and Tower of Capitol." — Young, 1901

"A method of decoration is peculiar to these buildings which appears to have been borrowed from Byzantine models. Fine marbles of various colors, of which red porphyry and green serpentine are the most frequent, are inserted in circular and angular panels and borderings, and form a sort of mosaic-work. This style of ornamentation is employed both in churches and palaces, and gives a peculiarly rich and elegant appearance to the façades. Another peculiarity which was borrowed from the Byzantine style consists in the employment of semi-circular gables, both in churches, as in the case of the Santa Maria dei Miracoli, and also in public places, of which the Scuola di San Marco is a brilliant example."

Scuola di San Marco

"A method of decoration is peculiar to these buildings which appears to have been borrowed from Byzantine…

"Arch of Severus, Column of Phocas, and S. Martina." — Young, 1901

Arch of Severus

"Arch of Severus, Column of Phocas, and S. Martina." — Young, 1901

The Cathedral of Siena is a Roman Catholic Marian church located in Siena, central Italy. A medieval church, it was completed in 1263. The interior of the church is designed with black and white marble stripes on the columns and the walls. These black and white stripes represent the coat of arms of Siena. The entire floor of the church is covered with an inlaid marble mosaic.

Cathedral of Sienna

The Cathedral of Siena is a Roman Catholic Marian church located in Siena, central Italy. A medieval…

"Interior of St. Clemente in Rome." — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

Interior of St Clemente

"Interior of St. Clemente in Rome." — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

"Section of Basilica of St. Agnes at Rome." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

St. Agnes Basilica

"Section of Basilica of St. Agnes at Rome." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

"Interior of St. Clement, Rome." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

St. Clement

"Interior of St. Clement, Rome." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

The Church of St. Francis in Assisi.

St. Francis Church

The Church of St. Francis in Assisi.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral of the church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, containing the papal throne (Cathedra Romana), it ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, even above St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

St. John's Church, Lateran Palace, Rome

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral of…

"Facade of old St. Peter's, Rome." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

St. Peter's

"Facade of old St. Peter's, Rome." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

St. Peter's and the Vatican palace in Italy is the largest church in the world.

St. Peter's and the Vatican Palace

St. Peter's and the Vatican palace in Italy is the largest church in the world.

It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom". In Catholic tradition, it is the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and, according to tradition, was the first Bishop of Antioch, and later first Bishop of Rome and therefore first in the line of the papal succession.

St. Peter's and the Vatican, from the Tiber Banks

It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of…

The ancient basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

St. Peter's Basilica

The ancient basilica of St. Peter in Rome.

A late Renaissance church located in the Vatican in Rome, Italy. By Catholic Tradition, the Basilica is the burial site of its namesake St. Peter, one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ and, also according to tradition, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome.

St. Peter's Basilica

A late Renaissance church located in the Vatican in Rome, Italy. By Catholic Tradition, the Basilica…

This is a drawing of the interior of the St. Peter's Basilica located in the Vatican city of Rome, Italy. The interior space of the church was designed by Giovanni Paolo Panini an Italian painter and architect. The interior space is the largest interior of any Christian church in the world.

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica

This is a drawing of the interior of the St. Peter's Basilica located in the Vatican city of Rome, Italy.…

"Section and Interior View of the five-aisled Basilica of S. Pietro at Rome, before its restoration. Large basilicas sometimes have as many as five aisles — namely, a main-aisle in the middle, and two lower aisles on each side."

Old St. Peter's Basilica

"Section and Interior View of the five-aisled Basilica of S. Pietro at Rome, before its restoration.…

The Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a "unique position" as one of the holiest sites and as "the greatest of all churches of Christendom". The Apostolic Palace, also called the Sacred Palace, the Papal Palace or the Palace of the Vatican, is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City.

St. Peter's Church and Vatican Palace, Rome

The Basilica of Saint Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a "unique position" as one…

"St. Peter's Rome: the architectural glory of the Renaissance." -Foster, 1921

St. Peter's Rome

"St. Peter's Rome: the architectural glory of the Renaissance." -Foster, 1921

A view of Rome including St. Peter's and the Vatican.

View of St. Peter's

A view of Rome including St. Peter's and the Vatican.

"facade of old St Peter's, Rome." — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

Old Facade of St. Peter's

"facade of old St Peter's, Rome." — Encyclopediia Britannica, 1910

An illustration of the exterior of both the Basilica of Saint Peter and the Vatican. The Basilica of St. Peter is one of four major basilicas of Rome, the others being the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Santa Maria Maggiore and St. Paul outside the Walls. It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City. Its dome is a dominant feature of the skyline of Rome. Probably the largest church in Christianity, it covers an area of 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres) and has a capacity of over 60,000 people.

St. Peters and the Vatican

An illustration of the exterior of both the Basilica of Saint Peter and the Vatican. The Basilica of…

The ruins of the temple Aurelian built for Sol Invictus, the sun god.

Temple for Sol Invictus

The ruins of the temple Aurelian built for Sol Invictus, the sun god.

The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus at Rome.

Temple of Jupiter

The temple of Jupiter Capitolinus at Rome.

"The Round temple in the Piazza Bocca Della Verita." — Young, 1901

Round temple

"The Round temple in the Piazza Bocca Della Verita." — Young, 1901

On the coast of Naples, near the ancient town of Puzzuoli, stand three marble pillars forty feet in height. Their pedestals are washed by the waters of the Mediterranean. The marble pavement upon which they stand was, in the second century, the floor of a temple and is sunken three feet beneath the waves. The level of land may vary, and the shores of a continent may be submerged, and at a subswquent period may rise again from the waves. It is recorded that the effects of oscillations cause many changes in land formation of the centuries.

Temple of Scrapis at Puzzuoli

On the coast of Naples, near the ancient town of Puzzuoli, stand three marble pillars forty feet in…

View of the Piazza del Popolo looking west from the Pincian Hill. On the left are the twin churches of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto. In the center of the plaza is an Egyptian obelisk of Sety I from Heliopolis. The twin churches were completed in 1681 and the engraving was published in 1872 and so must represent a time between those two dates.

The Piazza del Popolo in Rome

View of the Piazza del Popolo looking west from the Pincian Hill. On the left are the twin churches…

An ancient monument built in 520 CE by Theodoric the Great as his future tomb.

Tomb of Theodoric at Ravenna

An ancient monument built in 520 CE by Theodoric the Great as his future tomb.

"The two-storied marble structure is capped by an enormous monolith weighing over 300 tons."—Webster, 1913

Tomb of Theodoric at Ravenna

"The two-storied marble structure is capped by an enormous monolith weighing over 300 tons."—Webster,…

This illustration shows a round temple at Tivoli.

Tivoli

This illustration shows a round temple at Tivoli.

Tombs for the ancient people of Pompeii.

Tombs of Pompeii

Tombs for the ancient people of Pompeii.

The leaning tower of Pisa, located in Italy.

Tower of Pisa

The leaning tower of Pisa, located in Italy.

"Interior view of Trajan's Basilica." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Trajan's Basilica

"Interior view of Trajan's Basilica." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

"Section of Trajan's Basilica, Rome." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Trajan's Basilica

"Section of Trajan's Basilica, Rome." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

A triumphal column in Rome, commemorating Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars.

Column of Trajan

A triumphal column in Rome, commemorating Roman emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars.

An illustration of the original Trocadero Palace. For the 1878 World's Fair, the Palais du Trocadéro was built here (where meetings of international organizations could be held during the fair). The palace's form was that of a large concert hall with two wings and two towers; its style was a mixture of exotic and historical references, generally called "Moorish" but with some Byzantine elements. The architect was Gabriel Davioud. The concert hall contained a large organ built by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, the first large organ to be installed in a concert hall in France. It was removed to a hall in Lyon and subsequently destroyed by fire. The building proved unpopular, though the cost expended in its construction delayed its replacement for nearly fifty years.

Trocadero Palace (old)

An illustration of the original Trocadero Palace. For the 1878 World's Fair, the Palais du Trocadéro…

A portrait of the Vatican in Italy.

The Vatican

A portrait of the Vatican in Italy.

The town hall of Florence, Italy.

Palazzo Vecchio

The town hall of Florence, Italy.

Examples of Gothic architecture in Venice, Italy: St. Mark's and the Doge's palace.

Venice Architecture

Examples of Gothic architecture in Venice, Italy: St. Mark's and the Doge's palace.

This painting by J. William Turner is one of many canal drawings the artist did. The piece was exhibited in the year 1840. It can now be found in the South Kensington Museum.

Venice from the Canal of the Giudecca

This painting by J. William Turner is one of many canal drawings the artist did. The piece was exhibited…

A canal in Venice, Italy.

A Canal in Venice

A canal in Venice, Italy.

"A more determined imitation of Roman architecture is subsequently perceptible in the productions of San Michele during the first half of the sixteenth century. The conceptions of this architect had a considerable influence on his contemporaries and successors, and display a certain independence and originality." The Palazzo Grimani di San Luca is a Renaissance building in Venice, Italy. It is located on the Rio di San Luca channel of the city, at the point in which it flows into the Canal Grande. The palace was built in the mid-16th century for procurator Gerolamo Grimani by architect Michele Sanmicheli, and completed after his death by Gian Giacomo de' Grigi, known as "il Bergamasco".

Grimani Palace at Venice

"A more determined imitation of Roman architecture is subsequently perceptible in the productions of…

"Next in order are the productions of Jacopo Tatti, or Sansovino, who was born in 1479, and died in 1570. This architect was educated in the Florentine school, and afterwards proceeded to Rome; his masterpieces are less powerful and imposing but on the other hand, are more graceful, and display more richly developed details than those of San Michele."The Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana is a library and Renaissance building in Venice, northern Italy; it is one of the earliest surviving public manuscript depositories in the country, holding one of the greatest classical texts collections in the world. The library is named after St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice.

Old Library of St. Mark at Venice

"Next in order are the productions of Jacopo Tatti, or Sansovino, who was born in 1479, and died in…

"More than one cause served to render the compositions of Palladio so celebrated. He possessed an especial felicity in the arrangement of his ground-plans, particularly in instances where he had an unlimited space for disposal. His command, moreover, of good proportion , rendered his combinations of civic and sacred buildings most pleasing to the eye; whilst the columnar arrangement of his entrances conveyed an agreeable, and at the same time, dignified impression. Consequently the works of Palladio, although often composed of heterogeneous elements, remained for a long period the model for an entire style; and even in the eighteenth century, when the total deterioration of architecture, as exemplified in what is called by the Germans "the Zopf-und-Perrücken Styl" (pigtail and periwig style), led architects again in the direction of the classical, the designs of Palladio became anew a subject of study. Even in present day they are often immoderately praised by those who are not really conversant with the principles and requirements of art, and who are ignorant of the history of the development of architecture."Il Redentore, more properly Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore (Church of the Most Holy Redeemer), is Andrea Palladio's great domed church on Giudecca, one of the islands of Venice. Located on the waterfront of the Canale della Giudecca, it dominates the skyline of the island.The Redentore was built in thanksgiving for deliverance from the plague that decimated Venice from 1575 to 1576, in which some 46,000 people, 25-30 percent of the population, died. The Senate commissioned the great architect Palladio to design it. Construction began in May 1577. The building was in a satisfactory stage and was consecrated in 1592.

St. Saviour's, Venice

"More than one cause served to render the compositions of Palladio so celebrated. He possessed an especial…

"A certain originality and freedom of intervention is perceptible in the buildings of the early period of the Venetian Renaissance style; the old style is happily blended with the new, which during the first stage is still imbued with Romanesque conceptions." The Vendramin were a rich merchant family of Venice, Italy. What is now the most prominent "Palazzo Vendramin" in Venice, the splendid Ca' Vendramin Calergi by Mauro Codussi on the Grand Canal, was in fact only inherited by the family in 1739, and is now the casino, also famous as the place where Richard Wagner died in 1883. Some rooms are kept as a museum commemorating Wagner's stay. The 16th century Ca' Vendramin di Santa Fosca in the Cannaregio quarter, now also a hotel, is where Gabriele Vendramin's collection was housed. Yet another is the 16th or possibly 17th century "Palazzo Vendramin dei Carmini", in Dorsoduro, most of which is now occupied by part of the University of Venice.

Vendramin Palace at Venice

"A certain originality and freedom of intervention is perceptible in the buildings of the early period…

Venice: House of Gold

Venice: House of Gold

Venice: House of Gold