By the mid-thirteenth century, Gothic architecture had spread to most of Europe.
Yet the style varied by region, most dramatically in Italy. San Francesco in Assisi is
an example of what Italian architects meant by a Gothic church. It has high stained
glass windows and a pointed, ribbed vault (see Plate 6.5.) But the focus is not on
light and height but on walls, painted decoration, and well-proportioned space. With
flying buttresses rare and portal sculpture unobtrusive, Italian Gothic churches
convey a spirit of spare and quiet beauty.
