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During the 14th century there was a growing tendency to give cubic structures a decorative surface. On some buildings, the character of a precious shrine was created intentionally. If we did not know its actual dimensions, we might take the church of Santa Maria della Spina in Pisa for a shrine. The oratory contains what was believed to be part of Christ's crown of thorns, which the city had acquired in 1333. The acquisition provided the impetus to extend the existing chapel. Undoubtedly, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, where the entire crown was preserved, was the model. The side walls in particular display an array of French-inspired motifs, a forest of gables, pinnacles and tracery. As at the Sainte-Chapelle, the sculptural moldings are an integral part of the architecture, and not mere surface decoration.
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