Cupola
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- For other uses, see cupola (disambiguation)
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Cupola-st-peters-basilica-outside.jpg
Cupola-st-peters-basilica-outside.jpg
Cupola of St Peter's Basilica, Rome
In architecture, a cupola consists of a dome-shaped ornamental structure located on top of a larger roof or dome, often used as a lookout or to admit light and remove stale air. The word comes from the Italian, and expresses the idea of a "small tub".
In some cases, the entire main roof of a tower or spire can form a single cupola. More frequently, however, the cupola comprises a smaller structure which sits on top of the main roof. If one can reach the cupola by climbing a stairway inside the building, one can refer to this type of accessible cupola as a belvedere or as a widow's walk. Some cupolas, called lanterns, have small windows which illuminate the areas below.
External links
- Cupolas in Architecture (http://www.cupola.com/)de:Laterne (Architektur)