Commissioned by the Marquis of Manuta, Italy, Ludovico Gonzaga, Leon Battista Alberti's 1473 Basilica of Sant Andrea was created to house a relic, drops of Christ’s blood from the crucifixion, and the large crowds that gathered there during holy days. The plan of the basilica reflects the main façade, not pictured here. In the longitudinal portion of the building, the rooms off to the side, hosting relics, exist in threes. This evokes the triumphal arch of the façade as well as Christian lore. The larger form of the building is based on the number three as well. The transept, choir, and apse together form three ‘arms’ extending from the nave. The crossing, however, is based on a radial organization that reflects from  he plan into the section. For example, there are four main staircases at the points where the transept transects the longitudinal axis. Even the ornamentation, as seen in the section, is radial. All of the windows in the dome are based on a circle. The circularity is echoed in the longitudinal portion as seen by the small rooms off of the nave.
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