List of regional characteristics of Romanesque churches

Romanesque architecture is the term that is used to describe the architecture of Europe which emerged in the late 10th century and evolved into the Gothic style during the 12th century. The Romanesque style in England is more traditionally referred to as Norman architecture.

The style can be identified right across Europe with certain significant architectural features occurring everywhere. There are other characteristic which differ greatly from region to region.

Most of the buildings that are still standing are churches, some of which are very large abbey churches and cathedrals. The majority of these are still in use, some of them having been substantially altered over the centuries.

This list presents a comparison of Romanesque churches, abbeys and cathedrals of different countries. The second section describes the architectural features that can be identified within pictures of major architectural elements.

These features often have strong local and regional traditions. However, the movement of senior clergy, stonemasons and other craftsmen meant that these traditional features are sometimes found at distant locations.

Pisa Cathedral showing polychrome, galleries, dome (completed later), and free-standing campanile

San Zeno, Verona, showing defined facade, porch and wheel window

West front of Trani Cathedral, with bell tower

Modena Cathedral showing tri-apsidal eastern end, shallow transepts and square campanile

Interior of the Baptistery of St John, Florence, showing polychrome marble veneer and gold mosaics

Bari Cathedral, showing shallow apse, domed crossing, Corinthianesque columns and maetreum gallery

The Church of Sant' Ambrogio, Milan, has domical ribbed vaults and a contrasting red brick and stone.

Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Cornadore, Saint-Nectaire, Puy-de-Dôme with a polygonal crossing tower like Cluny, flat buttresses and a high eastern apse with radiating low apses forming a chevete.

The Abbey of Saint-Georges, Boscherville, is very typical of Norman architecture of the early 12th century with storeys of identical windows, blind arcading and paired turrets. The facade reveals the form of nave and aisles.

The Church of the Abbey of la Trinité, Caen shows the development of the twin-tower and triple-portal facade

Angouleme Cathedral shows a turreted screen facade which gives little indication of the building's form and is typical of southern France.

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