Natural lighting in sacred architecture

In sacred buildings light represents deity and the luminous scenario is the manifestation of a religious symbolism that overcomes all visual comfort requests. To the different architectonic styles corresponds a peculiar lighting scenario that reflects the religious thinking. In this paper, the architectonic styles have been classified in six luminous typologies on the basis of the luminous environment realized inside sacred buildings: Full of light, Semi-darkness, Light and shadow, Full of colors, Luminous pathway and Rays of light. The aim of the paper is to provide a useful instrument during the restoration intervention for a correct interpretation of the lighting concept in sacred building.