A recurring theme when we visited Italy and Spain was the use of daylight in the historical churches. It makes sense of course, because a lot of these buildings were constructed before electricity, and using openings was necessary to allow light in.
However, most windows or openings to daylight were done strategically to correspond with the sun’s path and make the most use of the sun’s rays.
Basilicas we visited in Italy
One chapel in Florence was called Cappella dei Principi inside the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The high windows surrounding a cross created cross beams of light and flooded the space with daylight. A skylight above this same cross allowed light to enter straight down. No electric light was needed.
Basilicas we visited in Spain
The famous La Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi uses colored glass to create rainbows inside. The rainbows painted the walls and even reflected on our faces inside the church. It was a beautiful use of colored light without using electric lights.
The columns act as light pipes, carrying daylight from the top exterior down into the building. You can see the round elements on the columns glowing.
This is so beautiful. I had no idea how the use of natural lighting years ago was so important and about all it created in the churches and beautiful buildings because of no electricity, it shows how intelligent and creative they were to design it for importance and beauty.