Cathedrals of Spain

Spain's cathedrals take shape within the cities and histories that surround them in John A. Gade's architectural study. He examines churches in Salamanca, Burgos, Avila, Leon, Toledo, Segovia, Seville and Granada, tracing the meeting of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. The opening comparison of Salamanca's adjoining cathedrals turns differences of scale, ornament and structure into an argument about the ages that produced them.

Close attention to construction gives the book its particular focus. In the discussion of Toledo, Gade explains how piers, aisles and carefully arranged vaults work together, while also considering the meaning of religious carving. Plans and photographs listed among the illustrations support this interest in how buildings are organized and seen. Readers studying architecture or preparing to look closely at Spanish churches can use the book to connect structural details with the wider life of a city.