Architectures of Festival in Early Modern Europe

Early modern European festivals were the catalyst for the creation of many temporary and occasionally permanent architectural feats both within courts and cities. Royal residences could be transformed into arenas for the performance of a wide variety of celebrations, while civic space could similarly become home to elaborate structures designed to facilitate festivities and make a statement about the power and influence of a particular state and/or ruler. The essays in this volume discuss examples of festival architecture ranging from imperial summer houses to the transformation of urban space in Paris, Rome and Venice.