A 13th-Century Italian Gothic Jewel: Basilica di Sant'Andrea, Vercelli

In the heart of Piedmont, Italy, you'll find the Basilica di Sant'Andrea in Vercelli. This architectural curiosity dates back to the 13th century, a remarkable early example of Gothic style. Its design was inspired by Cistercian models, boasting a blend of Romanesque elements. Built between 1219 and 1227, it adopts the Latin cross plan, with a nave and two aisles of six bays each. The aisles are deliberately kept lower than the nave. The right aisle features intriguing buttresses from which flying buttresses mysteriously connect it to the nave. The transept, likewise of five bays, matches the nave in both width and height. At the crossing stands an imposing octagonal lantern tower, crowned by a belfry, also octagonal, and culminating in a pyramidal cusp in brickwork. The apse boasts a unique rectangular plan, a typical feature of Cistercian Gothic edifices.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons