St Paul's Cathedral familiar with the unique octagonal lantern tower over the crossing of Ely Cathedral, which spans the aisles as well as the central nave, unlike the central towers and domes of most churches. Wren adapted this characteristic in designing the dome of St Paul's. In section St Paul's also maintains a medieval form, having the aisles much lower than the nave, and a defined clerestory. The most notable exterior feature is the dome, which rises to the cross at its summit, and dominates views of the City. The height of 365 feet is explained by Wren's interest in astronomy. Until the
Aversa Cathedral Aversa Cathedral Aversa Cathedral (, "Cattedrale di San Paolo") is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the city of Aversa in the province of Caserta, Campania, Italy. It has been the seat of the Bishop of Aversa from the bishopric's foundation in 1053. The Romanesque cathedral, dedicated to Saint Paul, has a spectacular ambulatory and an octagonal dome. Francesco Solimena's "Madonna of the Gonfalone" is kept here; the "Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian" by the Quattrocento painter Angiolillo Arcuccio, now in the seminary, was here formerly. The pre-Romanesque sculpture of Saint George and the Dragon is one of the few surviving free-standing