471. Apse of San Pellino. (From Schultz.) Scale 50 ft. to 1 in.
472. Church at Caserta Vecchia. (From Schultz.) Scale 50 ft. to 1 in.
Many also, as the cathedral at Bari (Woodcut No. [469]), have their apses internal, which detracts very much from the meaning of the design, and does away with the apsidal terminations, which are perhaps the most beautiful features in the external design of Italian churches; while they lack the great traceried windows which go so far to replace the absence of the apse in English design. The annexed elevation of the east end at Bari (Woodcut No. [470]) gives a fair idea of the general arrangement of that part in the churches in Apulia. It is novel, and the two tall towers with a central dome combine with elegant details to make up a whole which it is impossible not to admire though it will not bear comparison with the more artistic arrangements of Northern architects.
Where the apse[[308]] is allowed to be seen externally, it is sometimes, as at San Pellino (Woodcut No. [471]), an object of great beauty and originality, but such examples are rare in the province, and the designs suffer in proportion.
473. West Front of Bittonto Cathedral. (From a Sketch by A. J. R. Gawen, Esq.)
In the richer churches, as at Pisa, a blind arcade is carried round the flanks, sometimes with an open gallery under the eaves, as in German churches, but this was far from being universally the case; on the contrary, it would be difficult, as a typical example of the style, to select one more characteristic than the flank of the church of Caserta Vecchia (1100-1153) (Woodcut No. [472]). The windows are small but numerous, and mark the number of bays in the interior. The transept is slightly projected, and ornamented with an arcade at the top, and above this rises a dome such as is found only in Calabria or Sicily. The tower was added afterwards, and, though unsymmetrical, assists in relieving a design which would otherwise run the risk of being monotonous.
474. West Front of the Church of San Nicolo in Bari. (From a Sketch by A. J. R. Gawen, Esq.)