- Pegasus Bridge Café Gondrée
First house to be liberated in France on the 5/6th of June 1944, located in Bénouville. - Arromanches
- Longues-sur-Mer battery
More WWII bunkers with original guns on the Normandy coast. - Arromanches
We returned to Arromanches for a lovely dinner. - Arromanches
Remains of the artificial port in Arromanches. - Arromanches
The endless windy beaches are perfect for flying kites! - Arromanches
Arromanches beach was the landing area during the D-Day Normandy Invasion. - Bayeux
What a lovely town it is. This is on the main Saint Martin street. - Bayeux Cathedral
Some more lions/griffons/creatures higher up, but the most notable are the Bayeux lovers underneath them. - Bayeux Cathedral
The ceiling in the Bayeux cathedral choir shows various local bishops and saints. The whole cathedral is indeed a stunning place. - Bayeux Cathedral
12th century carving. I see a lion and an eagle carrying a fish. But it may also be a lion and a griffin. - Bayeux Cathedral
Here is where the famous Bayeux tapestry was exhibited until 1793. Possibly from 1077. - Bayeux Cathedral
15th century fresco of angels in the crypt. - Bayeux Cathedral
One of the more unusual capitals in the crypt. - Bayeux Cathedral
One of the many angels in the crypt. They play all sorts of instruments. - Bayeux Cathedral
The 11th century crypt is simply magnificent. The entrance to the crypt was closed soon afterwards and the crypt forgotten - until 1412. - Bayeux Cathedral
Plenty of old windows in the cathedral as well... These are from 1260, showing the local bishops Exupère and Loup. - Bayeux Cathedral
- Bayeux Cathedral
The portal of Saint Thomas Becket, showing the assembly of Northampton (1164) and the Assembly of Ambosus (1170); crossing of the English Channel and his martyrdom; and the veneration of his tomb. - Still life
Let's just say: you had to be there to understand ;-) - View from strada del Menador
View towards Lago di Caldonazzo (left) and Lago di Levico (right). - Sweets in Levico Terme
Some delicious sweets from a local patisserie. - Levico Terme
Some artificial flowers in the town centre. - Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
Founded in 1276, built and re-built several times. This building is from 1876. - Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
- Levico Terme
An interesting old entrance. - Levico Terme
A lovely tiny garden in Levico Terme. - Levico Terme
How to make a boring fence interesting. - Sunset in Baleal
- Ilha de Fora
Another sunset in Baleal. Just beautiful. - Claustro de Santa Bárbara
And one of the many cloisters in the Monastery, this one was built in the 16th century. - Cistern
One of the many cisterns in the Monastery. - Refectory
Pulpit in the Refectory, which was build in 1535-1536. Royal coat of arms... and some strange faces. - Janela do Capítulo
The famous Manueline Window of the Chapter House (1510-1513). - Claustro Principal
A very 16th century Renaissance cloister. - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
São Cristóvão - Saint Christopher (1484-1500) - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
The Romanesque round church was built in the second half of the 12th century by the Knights Templar. - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
A lot of renovation was going on, so we entered through some side doors. This was the first thing that greeted us after climbing the stairs. At 40 deg C outside, these rooms were at least a bit cooler. - Capelas Imperfeitas
King Manuel I dedicated this portal to King Edward and the motto "Leauté faray tam yaserei" means "I will always be loyal". - Capelas Imperfeitas
- Capelas Imperfeitas
The portal was originally Gothic and transformed by Mateus Fernandes into Manueline style (1509). - Capelas Imperfeitas
Ah, the famous Unfinished Chapels, commissioned in 1437 by Dom Duarte. - Capelas Imperfeitas
Insanely beautiful detail. - Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
What a magnificent cathedral! - Claustro Real
- Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
What an insane attention to detail! - Founder's Chapel
The chapel was built in 1426-1434 by Huguet to become the first royal pantheon in Portugal. - Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
The monastery was built to celebrate the 1385 victory over the Castilians. The church was built between 1386 and 1517. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
Founded in 1153 by Afonso Henriques and built in 1178-1252. The facade was added later, of course. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
This is the oldest gothic building in Portugal, and still the largest church in the country. - Cloister of Silence
- Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
Some old inscriptions on the cloister walls. - Chapter House
Statue of S. Gregorivs Magn in the Chapter House. - Gargoyle in the cloister
A rather interesting gargoyle. - Cloister of Silence
This cloister was built under King Dinis I (1261-1325). The Manueline top floor is from early 16th century. - The kitchen
What a kitchen! Built and covered with tiles in the 18th century. A channel carried water from Alcoa river directly through the kitchen (!) to get fresh water and fish. - Virgin Mary and child
I really like the visible hairstyle of Saint Mary. Unusual to see her hair so long and so curly. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
Refectory, where the monks had their daily meals. - Fountain Hall
Gothic fountain hall in the cloister. - Hotel garden
Wonderful tiny garden of our hotel (Silver coast). - Spring in Umbria
- Spoleto underground
Spoleto has an interesting (and very practical) underground. - Piazza Pianciani
- Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
The mosaic portraying Christ giving a Benediction, signed by Solsternus (1207). Let that sink in. 1207. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
The cathedral was built in the 12th century after an older one was ruined by Frederick Barbarossa's troops. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
A pulpit outside the church. - Piazza del Duomo
- Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Coronation of the Virgin, Filippo Lippi (1467-69). - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Transition of the Virgin, Filippo Lippi (1467-69). - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Frescoes (1477) - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
Saint Peter 'outside the walls'. Founded in 419 and reconstructed in the 12th-15th century. - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The story about the lion and the woodcutter. - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The reliefs depicting Christ washing Peter's feet (top) and the calling of Peter and Andrew on the Sea of Galilee (bottom) - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The main portal with the reliefs of a peacock pecking grapes (top), a grazing cow (middle), and a man driving a yoke of oxen, while his dog jumps up in front (bottom). - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The two panels indicating the contrast between posthumous fates of a righteous man (above) and of a sinner (below). - Ponte delle torri
The aqueduct, which was built in the 13th century, is 230 meters long and nearly 80 meters high. Unfortunately it was closed for public. - Giro dei Condotti
A wonderful walking path with views of the town, the castle and Ponte delle torri. - Cyclamen
- View of Spoleto
- View of Spoleto
- San Salvatore
OK, now, this may be my favourite church in Spoleto. Built in the 4th and 5th century, and renovated by the Lombards in the 8th century. - San Salvatore
The church is made mostly from 'salvaged material' from the Romans. - San Salvatore
The Lombards took the columns, capitals etc from the Romans, and assembled them into a new church ;-) Unfortunately, the church was quite damaged in the 2016 earthquake and is closed for visitors now. - Spring in Umbria
- Marciana
- Art in Marciana
Some local art in Marciana. - Saint Liboria Chapel in Marciana
Some say the chapel dates from the 11th-12th century, others claim it is from 17th century. Now, that is very exact! - Les amants by Blub
Les amants by Magritte by Blub. Blub really is everywhere. - A tile on a wall
Not the official coat of arms of Marciana, but it could be. - Porta Medicea of Marciana
- Raphael's angel by Blub
- Napoleon in Marciana
- Dog bar
Most of the shops in the town were closed, but the Dog bar was open :-) - Monte Capanne
Almost on top of Monte Capanne. Marciana in the background. - Marciana
- A funny cloud
That is a funny cloud. - Monte Capanne
On the way up Monte Capanne - Mountains of Elba
- Monte Capanne cable car
These bird cages are truly something special. - Monte Capanne cable car
These cable car cages are for two persons only.