As the UNESCO comments: The refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie forms an integral part of this architectural complex, begun in Milan in 1463 and reworked at the end of the 15th century by Bramante. On the north wall is The Last Supper, the unrivalled masterpiece painted between 1495 and 1497 by […]
Renaissance
Museumsinsel – Central Berlin’s collection of five museums built over a century
As the UNESCO comments: The museum as a social phenomenon owes its origins to the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century. The five museums on the Museumsinsel in Berlin, built between 1824 and 1930, are the realization of a visionary project and show the evolution of approaches to museum design over the course of […]
The Silk Exchange – La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia
As commented by the UNESCO: Built between 1482 and 1533, this group of buildings was originally used for trading in silk (hence its name, the Silk Exchange) and it has always been a centre for commerce. It is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture. The grandiose Sala de Contratación (Contract or Trading Hall), in particular, […]
The Old Town of Segovia (2/2) – the Cathedral and Alcázar
As the UNESCO comments: The Roman aqueduct of Segovia, probably built c. A.D. 50, is remarkably well preserved. This impressive construction, with its two tiers of arches, forms part of the setting of the magnificent historic city of Segovia. Other important monuments include the Alcázar, begun around the 11th century, and the 16th-century Gothic cathedral. […]
Villa “La Rotonda” in Vicenza and Villa Caldogno in Comune di Caldogno
This is my third post about Vicenza and this time we will go a bit away from the historic city center to explore two villas located in the heart of the Veneto region. If you have already read my previous two posts please click here to skip the general introduction and jump directly to chapter 2, […]
St. James Cathedral in Šibenik – Witness to the exchanges in monumental arts
As the UNESCO comments: The Cathedral of St James in Šibenik (1431-1535), on the Dalmatian coast, bears witness to the considerable exchanges in the field of monumental arts between Northern Italy, Dalmatia and Tuscany in the 15th and 16th centuries. The three architects who succeeded one another in the construction of the Cathedral – Francesco […]
Laténium – A 500-century journey back in time
First of all, many thanks to the deputy director of Laténium Museum Miss/Mrs Delley for giving me such an interesting and informative tour in the museum and to director Mr Kaeser for making this arrangement possible. Laténium Archaeology Park and Museum Hauterive-Neuchâtel is the biggest archaeological museum in Switzerland and the name actually came from the […]
Lyon – the City of Light
Hello dear friends! Finally, after 3 months I’m back to my website introducing to you the beautiful places of the world! About 1 week ago I went to the third biggest city in France – Lyon. What do you know about Lyon? The city of light? The birthplace of cinema? The gastronomic capital of the […]