Piazza dei Miracoli

One cannot help but notice the shift in style. The Carolingian form is more basic with slight Roman influence (note the columns and arched windows). The Romanesque period fully embraces the Roman arcades and columns to create a unique style, whereas the Gothic form is ornamental with more pronounced triangular and rectangular forms which helped provide greater support. Notice the interiors of each respective building reflect the same trend as the exterior, with the gothic being slightly more simplistic (less decorative) on the inside. In addition, each period saw increasingly larger windows, which allowed the clerestory to let in more light.