Italian Renaissance Revival was, and is, very popular in Los Angeles. Often this style is erroneously labeled, “Spanish” or “Mediterranean.” Both styles are characterized by the use of stucco, low-barrel tile roofs, and arched windows. The distinction between the two is quite simple — Italian Renaissance buildings have a pronounced symmetry. These homes tend to be a bit more formal than their Spanish counterparts. Look for a very elaborately detailed center entrance portal, usually arched.
In general, the Italian Renaissance style places emphasis on symmetry, proportion, geometry and the regularity of parts as they are demonstrated in the architecture of classical antiquity and in particular ancient Roman architecture. Orderly arrangements of columns, pilasters and lintels, as well as the use of semicircular arches, hemispherical domes, niches and aedicules replaced the more complex proportional systems and irregular profiles of medieval buildings.
