What is a common feature in the design of Romanesque churches aimed at enhancing the worship experience for pilgrims?

The design of Romanesque churches often included features like ambulatory and radiating chapels specifically to enhance the worship experience for pilgrims. The ambulatory allowed for a continuous walkway around the choir area, facilitating smooth movement for the large numbers of pilgrims who visited these churches. This feature was essential for accommodating the flow of people who came to pray at various altars or chapels without disturbing the central worship services.

Radiating chapels extended off the main apse, providing individual spaces for devotion. These chapels were often dedicated to saints and housed relics, which were significant draws for pilgrims seeking spiritual connection or healing. Consequently, the architectural design of these churches was strategically aimed at improving access and enhancing the spiritual experience of the pilgrims, making both the ambulatory and the radiating chapels vital aspects of Romanesque church architecture.

In contrast, while elaborate stained glass windows and high ceilings with domes are more characteristic of later Gothic architecture, and large open spaces with columns can be found in various styles, they do not specifically cater to the needs of pilgrims in the same way that ambulatory and radiating chapels do in the context of Romanesque churches.