February 13, 2024
As an integral component of the ARCH 223 – History of Art and Architecture II course, students from the Department of Architecture at Epoka University, lead by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Edmond Manahasa and Odeta Manahasa participated in a study visit to Pisa and Florence, Italy. The excursion was designed to enhance students’ critical understanding of architectural developments from the Romanesque through the Renaissance.
In Pisa, students examined examples of Romanesque architecture, including the Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower, analyzing their structural systems, spatial organization, and decorative programs within their historical context.
The visit to Florence offered an in-depth exploration of Renaissance architecture, emphasizing its formal, material, and symbolic innovations. Students conducted site analyses of key monuments such as the Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore), the Ospedale degli Innocenti (Foundling Hospital), Galleria dell’Accademia, Basilica di San Lorenzo, Santa Maria Novella, the New Sacristy, the Pazzi Chapel, Palazzo Strozzi, and Palazzo Rucellai. Particular focus was placed on the works of Filippo Brunelleschi and Michelangelo.
