the baroque monuments of italy were important sources for central europe. the gesu in rome was particularly influential because its desing led to the development of the wandpfeiler or wall pillar that characterizes many central european baroque churches. at the gesu the barrel-vaulted lateral chapels are separated from one another by cross walls faced at the nave with pilasters. north of the alps, these cross walls became wall pillars, which baroque architects exploited for both structural stability and the shaping of internal space. although the churches may retain sid aisles, some even with galleries overhead, the wall pillars were used as space-shaping elements to establish the concept of centrality within what were generally longitudinal plans. already seen in the oval designs of borromini and bernini, was continued in the baroque of central europe.