What are the characteristics of Baroque architecture?

The Baroque style had many characteristics, but the foliage motifs, the marquetry and the putti are some of the most recognizable features. The word "putti" is Italian for "boys," and it refers to the popular use of infants resembling cherub in many Baroque pieces.

Family crests and initials were also a very common characteristic of Baroque architecture. Numerous homes and buildings would often have these pieces over doors or around entryways as a show of pride in the family name or history. Baroque style was not limited to the physical architecture of buildings. The interior decorations consisted of rich velvet, damask furniture, gilt-wood and various marquetry style furnishings.