- Santa Maria dei Miracoli
This marble church was built between 1481 and 1489, designed by Pietro Lombardo. - Basilica di San Marco
Basilica at night. - Santa Maria Formosa
Built in 1492. - Santi Giovanni e Paolo
The interior of one of the largest churches in Venice, completed in 1430s. 25 doges are buried in this church. - Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Tomb of Jacopo e Lorenzo Tiepolo, two doges, who dies in 1249 and 1275, respectively. - Campanile di Santo Stefano
Well, that is a very tilted bell tower. - Piazza San Marco
- Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
An interesting detail of renovated frescoes in Biot - Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
Frescoes on one of the columns. - 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. - 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). - 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) - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Frescoes (1477) - 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
The mosaic portraying Christ giving a Benediction, signed by Solsternus (1207). Let that sink in. 1207. - Convent of San Domenico
Some old 14th and 15th century frescoes in the side chapels. - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The Dome dates from the 12th century. Its 14th century interior is simply divine. - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
Old Testament by Bartolo di Fredi (~1360). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The ceiling was painted with lapis lazuli. - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
New Testament by Barna da Siena and/or Lippo Memmi (~1345). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
- Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The last judgement by Taddeo di Bartolo (1393). The lower part is Saint Sebastian by Benozzo Gozzoli (1465). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The last judgement by Taddeo di Bartolo (1393). The hellish part. - Siena Cathedral
View of the Cathedral from Via Bruno Bonci. - Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
She-wolf of Siena, surrounded with emblems of confederate cities, dating from 1373. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Pinturicchio's Mount of Wisdom (1505): Fortuna, holding a horn of plenty and a wind-swollen sail. She, standing on a sphere and a boat with a broken mast, brought the wise men to the island. - Siena Cathedral
The dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern. - Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
Pulpit by Nicola Pisano (1268). The panels narrate the Life of Christ and the central column shows Seven Liberal Arts: Grammar, Dialectica, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Arithmetic, Music, and Astronomy. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Liberation of Bethulia, made in 1473 possibly by Urbano da Cortona. This is the story about Judith and Holofernes. - Siena Cathedral
One of the scenes on pulpit: Massacre of the Innocents - Siena Cathedral
A wonderful ceiling, but these heads are a bit creepy. - Siena Cathedral
The Hellespontine Sibyl (detail) by Neroccio di Bartolomeo. She was known for her prediction of Crucifixion. The wolf and the lion represent Siena and Florence. - Siena Cathedral
A detail of something. I cannot possibly remember where I took this picture. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Pinturicchio's Mount of Wisdom (1505): Crates of Thebes who is throwing jewels into the sea. - Siena Cathedral
The divine interior of the Cathedral. - Siena Cathedral
The frescoes tell the story of cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II). These two are: Pius II canonizes Saint Catherine of Siena in 1461 and Pius II arrives in Ancona to launch the crusade. - Siena Cathedral
Floors in the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
More interesting details on the ceiling of the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
Piccolomini coat of arms: a blue cross with five crescent. - Siena Cathedral
Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library, painted by Pinturicchio (1503). - Siena Cathedral
Some details on the ceiling of Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
A lion on the exterior of the cathedral. I am a bit intrigued by his eyes... - Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful ceiling! - Santa Maria Assunta
Madonna con Bambino e i Santi Agostino, Girolamo, Martino e Nicola by Matteo di Giovanni (1463). - Santa Maria Assunta
- Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna col Bambino tra i Santi Biagio, Giovanni Battista, Nicola e Floriano by Lorenzo di Pietro - Vecchietta (1465). - Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
One of the many sails on the facade, which was added to the church in 1456–1470. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
The cathedral was built between 1296 and 1436, but the facade was added 1887. I feel like I have been lied to. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
- DSC 9615
- Medusa
Medusa's head from the statue Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini (1545-1554) located in the Loggia dei Lanzi. - 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. - 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
São Cristóvão - Saint Christopher (1484-1500) - Janela do Capítulo
The famous Manueline Window of the Chapter House (1510-1513). - Convento dos Capuchos
The Door of Death is the entrance to the monastery. - Monasterio de San Jerónimo
And the very busy ceiling. - Beaune Polyptych detail
The red angel above Nicolas Rolin's head holds a golden helmet. - Beaune Polyptych
Closed altarpiece shows Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of Burgundy, and his wife Guigone de Salins, who founded the hospice in 1443. In the center are St. Sebastian and St. Anthony with the Annunciation on top. While the wife has a 'proper' white angel, the red angel of Nicolas looks quite devilish to me. - Beaune Polyptych detail
Another lovely detail of the Beaune altarpiece. A piglet hiding behind the painted statue of Saint Anthony. - Vézelay Abbey
The portal on the exterior of the church. - Vézelay Abbey
A lovely detail on the facade indicates the grandeur inside. - Vézelay Abbey
St Paul the Hermit's burial. Saint Anthony burying Saint Paul, with two lions digging the grave. - Vézelay Abbey
The crypt - Bayeux Cathedral
One of the many angels in the crypt. They play all sorts of instruments. - Bayeux Cathedral
15th century fresco of angels in the crypt. - Bayeux Cathedral
The ceiling in the Bayeux cathedral choir shows various local bishops and saints. The whole cathedral is indeed a stunning place. - Mont Saint-Michel
Adam and Eve's expulsion from Paradise, 1546. - Mont Saint-Michel
Christ's Descent into Limbo, 1547. What cuties these little devils are. - Pomposa Abbey
What a lovely peacock. A peacock is apparently considered incorruptible, representing the yearning for heavenly beatitude. - Pomposa Abbey
Frescoes in the refractory. - Pomposa Abbey
The Chapter House with early 14th century frescoes by a direct pupil of Giotto. In the center is Saint Guido, the Abbot of Pomposa (970-1046), on the left Saint Paul and on the right a pair of prophets, Moses and David. Note the horns on Moses :-) - Pomposa Abbey
Another fresco in the Chapter House, this one depicts Saint Benedict. - Pomposa Abbey
In the apse, Christ sits on the throne surrounded by musician angels and saints. Below is the procession opened by the Virgin Mary with St. Benedict. The Abbot Andrea, who ordered the work in 1351 is kneeling down on the left. The bottom part tells the story of Saint Eustace. Fresoes by Vitale da Bologna. - Pomposa Abbey
Ah, the Last Judgment. The Hell is interesting as there are people actually being tortured. Often they are just being taken by all sorts of cute creatures. - Pomposa Abbey
Some of the frescoes are even older, from the 10th century. - Pomposa Abbey
The church is full of 14th century Bolognese school frescoes, depicting Old Testament, New Testament and the Apocalypse. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was built between 425 and 450. Galla Placidia was the daughter of the Roman emperor Theodosius I. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
My favourite part of the ceiling. So intense. Unfortunately, the illumination of the whole mausoleum was almost nonexistent... - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Deer drinking water. At first I thought they were eating watermelons :-) And then there are two more apostles around the chi-rho-alpha-omega sign. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Either Saint Lawrence or Saint Vincent. And come fantastic decorative mosaics. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Each side has two apostles and a pair of doves. - Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Above the entrance, there is the mosaic of the Good Shepherd. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaics here are just insanely beautiful. - Basilica of San Vitale
What a difference between the two sides! Separated by the great arch, decorated with fifteen mosaic medallions: Jesus Christ in the centre, the twelve Apostles and Saint Gervasius and Saint Protasius, the sons of Saint Vitale. - DSC 4622
Abel sacrificing a lamb to God, and the King of Salem, Melchizedek, offering a loaf of bread. And another God's hand coming from the blue and pink clouds. Heh, Abel has a cottage and Melchizedek a palace. - Basilica of San Vitale
More apostles. And more fish :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
The apostles, decorated with fish! Fish! - Basilica of San Vitale
Part of the Sanctuary. - Basilica of San Vitale
The richness of the mosaic work in crazy. Down to the tiniest details! - Basilica of San Vitale
Probably the most famous mosaic in the church: Empress Theodora, the wife of Justinian I, holding the Eucharistic vessel. On the right might be Antonina, Belisarius’ wife, and other unnamed women, on the left is a court official and an eunuch. The detailing on the dresses (including the Tree Magi!) is insane. - Basilica of San Vitale
The mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian, who ruled the Roman Empire between 527 and 565, and his court. On the right side are the bishop Maximian, a deacon with the Bible, and a subdeacon with a thurible. On the left are probably generals Belisarius and Narses, and some soldiers. Justinian wears red and purple shoes, which only emperors were allowed to wear. And he stands on someone's foot :-) - Basilica of San Vitale
The Lamb of God, supported by four angels standing on blue globes. And plenty of animals, my favourite being peacocks. - Basilica of San Vitale
A young Christ, two angles, St Vitalis on the left and bishop Ecclesius on the right. The bishop offers the church to the Christ, while St Vitalis, covering his hands with a veil, receives the crown of martyrdom. Christ holds a scroll closed with the seven seals of the Apocalypse. - Basilica of San Vitale
Under the arch: Abraham and Sarah feeding the three strangers at Mambre and the Sacrifice of Isaac, with God's hand stopping Abraham from killing Isaac. Over the arch: the prophet Jeremiah, two angels holding a shield, Moses receiving the Law on Mt Sinai. - Museo Arcivescovile
Pulpit - ambo (597) shows plenty of animals as well as Saints John and Paul. Made out of a reused old sarcophagus.