530 BC Greek temples in Paestum
The Greek colonists of Paestum, in southern Italy, build the first of their three superb temples

20 BC Vitruvius explains architecture
Roman author Vitruvius writes De Architectura, now generally known as The Ten Books of Architecture

120 Spectacular dome for Pantheon
The Pantheon, roofed with the most spectacular dome of antiquity, is built in Rome by Hadrian

315 Constantine's first churches
Constantine founds several churches in Rome, among them the first St Peter's

320 Transept introduced in Rome
Constantine's new churches in Rome introduce an important element in church architecture, the transept

1132 Capella Palatina in Palermo
Work begins on the exquisite palace chapel in Palermo, built for the Norman kings of Sicily

1298 Siena protects Campo
The authorities in Siena publish strict regulations for the design of the buildings around a new central piazza, the Campo

1320 Italian Gothic takes bright new direction
In places such as Siena and Orvieto, Italian architects add a blaze of colour to the more restrained northern pattern of Gothic

1340 New palace for Venetian doge
The Doge's Palace, begun in its present form in this year, is only one of the spectacular beauties of Venetian Gothic

1345 New old bridge in Florence
The bridge now known as Ponte Vecchio is constructed in Florence (replacing an older old bridge)

1415 Brunelleschi studies Roman ruins
Filippo Brunelleschi begins studying the ruins of classical Rome, with a view to rediscovering classical architecture

1418 Brunelleschi wins competition
A competition is launched for an architect to construct a dome above Florence's cathedral, and is won by Brunelleschi

1430 Work begins on Pazzi chapel
Work begins in Florence on Brunelleschi's Pazzi chapel, which encapsulates in miniature the new ideals of Renaissance architecture

1471 Sixtus founds chapel and choir
The new pope, Sixtus IV, secures his name in history, establishing the Sistine chapel and the Sistine choir

1506 Foundation stone for new St Peter's
Julius II, together with the architect Bramante, lays the foundation stone for the new St Peter's

1570 Palladio revives the villa
Palladio publishes I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura ('The Four Books of Architecture'), which include his influential designs for villas

1590 St Peter's is complete
The dome of St Peter's is finished, completing nearly a century of construction on Europe's largest church

1618 First proscenium theatre
The Teatro Farnese in Parma is the first to have a proscenium arch, framing perspective scenery painted on flat wings

1629 Bernini is architect to St Peter's
The sculptor and architect Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini is given the task of adding the drama of baroque to the newly completed St Peter's in Rome

1667 Bernini colonnade for Rome pilgrims
Bernini's great curving colonnade is completed, to form the piazza in front of St Peter's

1944 Monte Cassino in ruins
The monastery and town of Monte Cassino are left in ruins after the Allies finally break through the German defences