Top 15 Examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture

Byzantine Revival Architecture, also known as NeoByzantine Architecture, was a building style that reached its peak in popularity during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was part of the Revival Movement, a period when most architecture was designed to replicate the buildings of the past. Byzantine Revival buildings were designed to mimic older works of Byzantine Architecture by utilizing many Byzantine design elements such as domes, round arches, and mosaics. The list below will highlight 15 of the World’s Greatest Examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture, and describe the history, characteristics, and impact of the NeoByzantine Style.

When was the Byzantine Revival Period?

The Byzantine Revival Period began in the late 1800s and faded by the early 1900s. It emerged during the late stages of the Neoclassical Period, and it was part of the Revival Movement in Architecture.

There are many different styles of Revival Architecture, but they all revolve around the same theme: replicating the buildings of the past and redesigning them in a new way.

Byzantine Revival Architecture coexisted alongside other revival styles, including NeoRomanesque, Neoclassical, NeoGothic, NeoRenaissance, and NeoBaroque.

Eventually, during the 1920s and 30s, other more fluid and sculptural building forms became popular including Art Nouveau and Art Deco Architecture.

Examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture are still being built today because it’s a key building form within the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Who were the Byzantines?

The Byzantine Empire was a successor state to the Ancient Roman Empire, with origins dating to the 5th century CE. Its capital was Constantinople, and it controlled a territory concentrated within the regions of Anatolia and the Balkans. Dozens of impressive works of Byzantine Architecture can be found in these regions, many of them located in and around the modern-day city of Istanbul.

Byzantine Architecture is famous for its use of domes, mosaics, round arches, and centrally planned churches.

Below you can see a side-by-side comparison of a Byzantine Building and a Byzantine Revival Building.

What’s the difference between Byzantine Revival Architecture and NeoByzantine Architecture?

There is no difference between NeoByzantine Architecture and Byzantine Revival Architecture, and the terms are often used interchangeably. Virtually all of the styles from the Revival Period can be described in this manner. (Ie…NeoGothic vs. Gothic Revival and NeoRenaissance vs. Renaissance Revival) 

Characteristics of Byzantine Revival Architecture

Although not invented by the Byzantines, domes are a feature that can be found throughout Byzantine Architecture. The greatest example of this is the dome of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. It was the largest dome on earth from its completion in 532 CE until the 1400s during the Renaissance Age when when the dome of Florence Cathedral was completed. The vast majority of Byzantine Revival buildings contain domes, and many of them are designed in the same aesthetic fashion as the Hagia Sophia’s. The image above shows the dome of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sophia, Bulgaria. It stands atop a series of round arches, and it is gilded with gold leaf.

Byzantine-style mosaics are one of the most iconic elements found in Byzantine Revival Architecture. The ancient Byzantines were masters of mosaics, and many Byzantine craftsmen would travel throughout Europe and the Mediterranean to work on various projects. Although the Byzantine Empire would collapse in 1453 after the Fall of Constantinople, Byzantine-Style mosaics were still used for centuries. In the image above you can see some mosaics inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, USA. Here all of the mosaics depict religious iconography, and there is a heavy use of gold.

One of the most unique elements found in the buildings of the Byzantine Empire are distinct intricately carved column capitals. These capitals followed the same traditions as all of the Classical Orders, however, the Byzantines added much more complexity. Byzantine Capitals typically contain various geometric and floral patterns carved directly into the stonework. These same styles of capitals can be found throughout many examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture. In the image above you can see three capitals on the facade of Kronstadt Naval Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Round arches are another element typically found in Byzantine Revival Architecture. Round arches are often referred to as “Roman Arches” because they were so heavily utilized in the Architecture of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Eastern Half of the Roman Empire, and both states shared a similar architectural identity. In the image above can see round arches throughout the windows and entrances of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Kaunas, Lithuania. The Eastern Orthodox Church utilizes Byzantine Revival Architecture more than any other faith, and many other Baltic States are filled with impressive NeoByzantine Churches.

The most famous example of Byzantine Architecture is the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia was once the main church for all of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and its design has been replicated countless times over the centuries. Various elements from the Hagia Sophia can be found throughout works of Byzantine Revival Architecture. In the image above you can see some windows at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. Here many of the large arches are split into three smaller arches. The left and right arches are half the width of the central arch, which in turn creates a sense of balance and diversity within the facade. Similar windows to these can be found throughout other buildings on this list.

What are the best examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture?

The article below will list 15 of the world’s greatest examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture, and take an in-depth look at the history and influence of this important style.

1. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – Sophia, Bulgaria

One of the most recognizable buildings in all of Bulgaria, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the principal church within the Bulgarian Capital. Bulgaria achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in the year 1908, and the cathedral was completed shortly after this in 1912. The building’s most iconic element is of course the golden dome, which mimics the way the dome of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul once looked. 

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral towers over the surrounding city of Sophia, and it’s located near other iconic buildings such as the Bulgarian National Assembly and the Bulgarian National Art Gallery. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox Churches on earth rivaling other impressive buildings in Russia, Ukraine, and other Balkan States. The interior of the church is lavishly decorated with chandeliers, frescoes, and large marble slabs.

2. Sacré-Cœur  –  Paris, France

The Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is a work of Byzantine Revival Architecture located atop Montmartre, a large hill overlooking all of Paris. Like many other important buildings from this time period, the church was privately funded and the French State had little to do with its construction. Aside from its commanding location, the church is most well known for its large Byzantine-Style Domes. The domes are curved with an integral drum at the bottom, which is a feature found in a lot of Byzantine-inspired architecture. You can see other examples of domes like this in cities like Marseille, Venice, and Ravenna. 

Construction began on the church in the year 1875 and wasn’t completed until 1914. The building has a very strong Byzantine Influence, but you can also see various elements from Romanesque Revival and Gothic Revival Architecture. In the left image above you can see the church’s interior, which follows the same color scheme and design aesthetic as the exterior. Like many other examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture, the interior of Sacre-Coer is very dark because it doesn’t have large windows like the ones seen in Gothic Churches. Although the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur is often overlooked when compared to other Parisian buildings, it’s still an incredible work of architecture that’s worth a visit.

3. Church of Saint Sava – Belgrade, Serbia

The Church of St. Sava is an Eastern Orthodox Church located in Belgrade Serbia. The building was completed relatively recently in the year 2004, making it one of the world’s newest examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture. The church is centrally planned with a massive internal space that’s capped with a large Byzantine-style Pendentive Dome. The structure of the Church of St. Sava is strikingly similar to many of the Byzantine Churches in Istanbul. Just like at the Hagia Sophia, St. Sava has a central dome that’s supported by a series of half domes to create a large and open central space without the use of columns. 

4. Marseille Cathedral – Marseille, France

Marseille Cathedral is a large church located along the waterfront in Marseille, France. The church contains a blend of Byzantine Revival Architecture and Romanesque Revival Architecture. It was completed in the year 1896, and it replaced a much older church that dated to the original Romanesque Age. The domes of the church resemble many other Byzantine-style domes, and the entire building is made from a striated pattern of two different shades of stone. A lot of these same elements are also utilized in Notre-Dame de la Garde (#8 on this list) which is located a few miles away in central Marseille. 

5. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – Washington DC, United States

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a large example of Byzantine Revival Architecture located in Washington DC. It’s one of several revival-era churches located in the US Capital, in addition to the NeoGothic Washington National Cathedral. The church contains a massive Byzantine Style Dome that sits atop a long linear Nave. Construction began on the building in 1920, and it contains a blend of typical Byzantine-style elements. The windows along the nave greatly resemble the windows of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and the overall layout of the church is similar to a traditional Roman Basilica. 

6. Westminster Cathedral – London, England, UK

Westminster Cathedral is an impressive work of Byzantine Revival Architecture located in London England. Like many ambitious building projects from the 19th century, the cathedral remains unfinished. Only the bottom third of the interior has been completed, and the upper portions remain as exposed brick. Construction began on the church in 1895, but most work ceased by the mid-1900s. Westminster Cathedral contains some of the greatest Byzantine-style Mosaics of any building on this list. The mosaics are composed of bright colors, and a lot of the tiles are faced with a thin layer of gold leaf. 

7. Kronstadt Naval Cathedral – St. Petersburg, Russia

Like many other Eastern Orthodox Cathedrals, Kronstadt Naval Cathedral bears a heavy influence from Byzantine Architecture. Although many of the materials and finishes are different, the church greatly resembles the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul in both plan and section. This layout has a lot to do with the Eastern Orthodox religion itself, and the ceremonies that are held within churches of this style. The whole idea is to create a large interior space that is centralized.  Eastern Orthodox Music also plays a large role in the design of buildings like this. The acoustics within these spaces help embellish the sound of the music and provide deep reverberating tones that can’t be replicated in smaller spaces.

If you’re interested in the acoustical properties within Byzantine Style Churches like the Hagia Sophia, you can check out this research study that was featured on NPR.

8. Notre-Dame de la Garde – Marseille, France

Located on a steep hill that looks over the entire city of Marseille, the church of Notre-Dame de la Garde is one of France’s most iconic works of Byzantine Revival Architecture. Designed in a very similar manner to Marseille Cathedral (#4 on this list), the church contains a blend of Byzantine Revival and Romanesque Revival design elements. The church’s most iconic feature is of course the 37’ (11 m) tall gilded statue that sits atop the main bell tower. The church and the statue are both symbols of Marseille, and they can be seen virtually everywhere in the city. 

9. St Volodymyr’s Cathedral – Kiev, Ukraine

St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral is an impressive work of Byzantine Revival Architecture located in the Ukrainian Capital of Kyiv. Back in the Medieval Period, the city was the capital of the Kievan Rus, a society that was the precursor to modern-day Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The Kievan Rus were important trading partners with the Byzantine Empire, and the customs, traditions, and religion of the Rus People were heavily influenced by Byzantine Culture. The many works of Byzantine Revival Architecture found in Eastern Europe today show how this connection is still very influential. 

10. Church of St. Michael the Archangel –  Kaunas, Lithuania

The Church of St. Michael the Archangel is a great example of Byzantine Revival Architecture in Lithuania. The church was constructed beginning in the year 1891, and it follows a similar design to many other Eastern Orthodox Churches on this list. The church contains all of the major design elements found in the Byzantine Revival Style including domes, round arches, and Byzantine Style Column Capitals.

11. The Granary –  Bristol, England, U.K.

Bristol is a city in the United Kingdom that is famous for its abundance of Byzantine Revival Architecture. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this style became common throughout Bristol’s town center, and it was widely adopted by local builders and architects. One of the best examples of these structures is the Bristol Granary Building, which was completed in 1869. In the image above you can see the front facade of the building which features a variety of brick details. Here you can see Byzantine Influences in addition to other elements from Gothic and Medieval Architecture.

12. Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral  –  São Paulo, Brazil

Completed in 1954, the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral of São Paulo is a more modern example of Byzantine Revival Architecture located in the heart of Brazil’s most populous city. São Paulo holds a population of about 22 million people, and it contains a sizable population of Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral hosts frequent masses to cater to this population. The church contains a large dome that sits atop other half-domes, which is a similar form matching other churches on this list.

13. Annunciation Cathedral  – Kharkiv, Ukraine

Kharkiv is one of the largest cities in Ukraine, and it contains several different Eastern Orthodox Churches. Annunciation Cathedral is one of the city’s most impressive buildings, and it’s one of Ukraine’s greatest examples of Byzantine Revival Architecture. The church is one of the tallest on this list, with a bell tower that stands over 260′ (80 m) tall. The church also contains an interesting blend of red and white masonry, that is arranged in a striated pattern, similar to some of the NeoByzantine churches in Marseille, France.

14. Notre Dame d’Afrique – Algiers, Algeria

Notre Dame d’Afrique is a rare example of Byzantine Revival Architecture in Africa. The church is located in Algiers, Algeria, and it dates to the period of French occupation in North Africa. Construction began on the church in 1858, and it had a strong influence from other works of French Architecture from this time period. Some of the same elements found in the Basilica of Sacre Ceaour can be found throughout Notre Dame d’Afrique, and of course, the name “Notre Dame” also comes from the French Language. 

15. German Fountain

The German Fountain is a monument dating from the end of the Ottoman Empire. Up until the outbreak of WWI in 1914, the Ottomans were closely allied with the newly unified state of Germany. Both sides fought together against the Allies in WWI, and they shared a common enemy, the Russian Empire. The German Fountain was donated to the city of Istanbul by the German Kaiser Wilhelm II and it was installed in Sultanahmet Square in 1900. The design of the German Fountain was made to be a blend of NeoByzantine and Ottoman Architecture, and it still fits in well with the surrounding mosques and churches within the Turkish Capital.

Byzantine Revival Architecture Today

Byzantine Revival Architecture continues to be an important building typology in the modern age. Although NeoByzantine Buildings reached their peak popularity in the late 1800s, the style is still utilized today by the Eastern Orthodox church. Many cities throughout the world contain impressive works of Byzantine Revival Architecture, and some of the structures listed above are extremely iconic and recognizable. The NeoByzantine Style remains a key element in the overall Revival Movement in Architecture, and churches like Sacré-Cœur and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral will continue to be influential buildings for centuries to come.

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