Sensus Design Studio

The Stone Balconies Of Italy

OUR INSPIRATION:
THE STONE
BALCONIES OF ITALY

Country manor behind a rectangular outdoor pool

Earlier in the fall, we had the chance to explore Switzerland and Italy with our families. While we made incredible memories together, more importantly (lol), we took some great photos of masonry details I loved throughout almost every city we stopped in, including Rome, Verona, Venice, Genoa, and Ravello.

Carved Gothic stone balcony projecting from a brick facade

“TRAVEL MAKES ONE
MODEST. YOU SEE WHAT A
TINY PLACE YOU OCCUPY IN
THE WORLD.”

Heavy stone balcony supports viewed from the street

As you walk through the streets of these historic towns, the patina of the buildings, the weathered wood shutters, and the intricate cornice details all create an undeniably beautiful environment. It makes exploring almost any street in the core of each location an experience in itself. As we did this, what stood out to me the most were the balconies. This is a design element that is seen on almost every facade, yet they never feel repetitive. Instead, they characterize the architecture with the solidity of their masonry supports and railings, with each offering unique profiles, design details, and colour hues.

Sculpted stone brackets beneath an ornate balcony
Corner balcony with intricate carved stone panels

There is something special about the way these structures are integrated into the buildings. They do not feel like afterthoughts but rather like heavy, permanent extensions of the living space that hang above the streetscapes. The interplay of shadow and light on the stone supports adds a layer of depth to the facades that you just do not see in modern construction.

Balcony with scroll brackets and a patterned stone railing

“ONCE A YEAR, GO SOME
PLACE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN
BEFORE.”

Carved stone figures supporting a balcony beneath shutters
Pale stone balcony with a balustrade and curved supports
Stone balustrade above deep carved balcony brackets

Among this list includes Juliet’s balcony, which we saw when we were in Verona. It was a nice way to end a day of sightseeing and served as a perfect example of how romantic and grounding these masonry features can be. I hope you enjoy the shots we took of these details the craftsmanship behind them as much as we did.

Balcony underside framed by scroll-shaped supports
Stacked stone balconies against an ochre facade
Ornate stone balcony with pierced railing panels