Exercise on page 30-31 

The Gothic cathedral 

es. 1)
I generally associate the adjective “Gothic” with an architecture style and artistic elements. 

es 2)
aisle : navata centrale (G) 
arch :  arco, arcata (B)
column : colonna (I)
facade : facciata (K)
fan vault : volta con nervature (E)
nave : navata laterale (F)
pier : pilastro (B)
pinnacle :  pinnacolo (H)
relief : rilievo (J)
ribbed vault: volta a ventaglio (L) 
spire : guglia (A)
steeple : campanile o guglia di torre (D)

es. 3 )
1. When was there a large cathedral-campaign in England ?
There was a large cathedral-campaign in England during the end of the 12th century. 

2. When was a church called a “cathedral” ? 
 A church was called a “cathedral” when it contained a cathedra, or “throne”, for a bishop

3. What materials were used to build Gothic cathedrals ?
The materials adopted to build Gothic cathedrals  were marble, timber, stone and glass. 

es. 6) 
The features that belong to Gothic architecture are : 
�	high piers decorated with geometrical shapes
�	rounded arches 
�	small and high windows 
�	verticality proportion
�	slender, continuous piers 
�	massive pinnacles 

es.7 ) 
I think the high towers and pinnacles might symbolise the tension to God. Indeed people were mostly interested in salvation, the first value of the 12th century. 

es. 8) 
 Architecturally stained glass was functional  to admit enormous amounts of light into the cathedral. As a result  the glass functioned both as a practical means,  to illuminate the interior, and in contrast to Romanesque architecture - which favoured massive walls and small window openings - to create an atmosphere of vast soaring spaces and thin, curtain-like walls. Spiritually they had the function to create an ambient as near as possible to God.