# Polifora

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Polifora
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Polifora.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polifora
> Source revision: 1342932976
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Beaconsfield United Reformed Church, Aylesbury End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, seen from west-southwest. Built in 1874–75.

**Polifora** is a type of the multi-light [window](/source/Window).[1][2] It appears in towers and belfries on top floors, where it is necessary to lighten the structure with wider openings. The term *polifora* usually refers to the window with at least five parts.

## Overview

The polifora is a multiple-part window, divided by small columns or pilasters. Each part has a small arch, which can be round or, more often, pointed. Central parts may sometimes be taller than side openings. The space among the arches is often decorated or perforated. The polifora is typical for [Gothic architecture](/source/Gothic_architecture) and widely used to decorate large cathedrals in the Northern Europe—particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands where the polifora became a true feature of distinction and personalization of the [French Gothic style](/source/French_Gothic_style). The polifora is also widely used in [Venetian Gothic architecture](/source/Venetian_Gothic_architecture) to decorate the main halls of Venetian palaces.[3][4]

Such windows can sometimes take specific names that indicate the exact number of openings: pentafora (five parts) and hexafora (six parts) are the most common. Rarer are the windows with higher number of openings; for example the eight-part polifora of the [Ca 'Foscari](/source/Ca_'Foscari) in [Venice](/source/Venice).[5]

## Gallery

		- [Ca' Foscari](/source/Ca'_Foscari), Grand canal facade.

		- Main facade of [Palazzo Loredan](/source/Palazzo_Loredan_in_Campo_Santo_Stefano), Venice.

		- United Free Methodist Church, Bicester.

		- A window of the former parish church of St Michael, Leonard Street, London.

		- Parish church of the Good Shepherd, Par Green, Par, Cornwall.

		- [Palazzo Ariani](/source/Palazzo_Ariani), Venice

		- [Palazzo Mastelli del Cammello](/source/Palazzo_Mastelli_del_Cammello), Venice

		- Polifora on [Ciprianis-Benedetti Palace](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ciprianis-Benedetti_Palace&action=edit&redlink=1) in [Split](/source/Split%2C_Croatia), [Croatia](/source/Croatia)

## See also

- [Monofora](/source/Monofora)

- [Bifora](/source/Bifora_(architecture))

- [Trifora](/source/Trifora)

- [Quadrifora](/source/Quadrifora)

- [Glossary of architecture](/source/Glossary_of_architecture)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Redding, Heather (2014). [*Stealing Venice*](https://books.google.com/books?id=S64kBQAAQBAJ&dq=polifora+window&pg=PA37). Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 37. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781783066438](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781783066438). Retrieved 23 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Krautheimer, Richard (1937). [*Corpus Basilicarum Christianarum Romae: The Early Christian Basilicas of Rome (IV-IX Cent.)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Vh5JAQAAIAAJ&q=polifora+window). Pontificio istituto di archeologia cristiana. p. 86. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Tiraboschi, Roberto (2017). [*The Apothecary's Shop: Venice 1118 A.D.*](https://books.google.com/books?id=x88PDgAAQBAJ&dq=polifora+window&pg=PT106) Penguin. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781609454180](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781609454180). Retrieved 23 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Pirovano, Carlo (1985). [*Terza Mostra Internazionale Di Architettura*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xn_RNbHudl4C&q=polifora+window). Electra Editrice. p. 51. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9788843511983](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788843511983). Retrieved 23 July 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Aula Mario Baratto: Ca' Foscari University of Venice"](https://www.unive.it/pag/31156/). *www.unive.it*. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Polifora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polifora) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polifora?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.