- Santa Clara
Santa Clara (1410s) by Lorenzo Salimbeni. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Madonna with Child
Madonna with Child (1476) by Alvise Vivarini. Saints Francis, Peter, Paul and John the Baptist. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Madonna with Child
Madonna with Child (1476) by Alvise Vivarini. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Madonna of Mercy
Madonna of Mercy (XV century) by a Camerino sculptor. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Madonna of Mercy
Madonna of Mercy (XV century) by a Camerino sculptor. The coral necklace and bracelets are a symbol of good omen and protection from evil. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Flagellation of Christ
Flagellation of Christ (1460) by Piero della Francesca. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Flagellation of Christ
Flagellation of Christ (1460) by Piero della Francesca. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Institution of Eucharist
Institution of Eucharist (1473-1476) by Joos Van Wassenhove (Giusto di Gand) and Corpus Domini predella (1467-1468) by Paolo Uccello. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Corpus Domini predella
Corpus Domini predella (1467-1468) by Paolo Uccello. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Madonna with Child on Throne
Madonna with Child on Throne, Saints John the Baptist, Francis, Girolamo, Sebastian and te Buffi family (1489) by Giovanni Santi. Giovanni Santi is, btw, the father of Raphael. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Annunciation (1485) by Giovanni Santi
Annunciation (1485) by Giovanni Santi Giovanni Santi is the father of Raphael. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Madonna with Child by Vincenzo Pagani
Madonna with Child and Saints Martin, Michael and George (1529) by Vincenzo Pagani. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Annunciation by Vicenzo Pagani
Annunciation (1532) by Vicenzo Pagani. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Annunciation by Vicenzo Pagani
Annunciation (1532) by Vicenzo Pagani. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Saint Mary Magdalene
Saint Mary Magdalene (1508) by Timoteo Viti. Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Portrait of a Lady by Raphael
Portrait of a Lady, La Mutta (1505-1509) by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino). Palazzo Ducale, Urbino. - Lantern
Lantern of what is now Higher Institute for Artistic Industries. Urbino - Crucifix
Church of San Giacomo e San Quirico. Now that is a strange statue: the shoulders seem to be broken and the hair seems to be ... real. - Church of San Giacomo e San Quirico
Some Guarnerius Sculpsit in 1679. - Various coins
These are the golden coins recovered from the Polluce. - Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
Dating from the beginning of the 16th century, the author being unknown. - Torre dell'Orologio
Their clocks used to show 24 hours, not just 12. - Narthex of the Basilica
Arch of Paradise above the entrance to the Basilica. - Narthex of the Basilica
Mosaic in the narthex, depicting Death of Noah, the Tower of Babel (1200s) and the Story of Abraham (1230). - Basilica di San Marco
The roof of the Basilica with Saint Mark, his winged lion and the protecting angels. - West Facade of the Basilica
Depiction of the procession bringing St. Mark's relics to the Basilica, above St. Alipius Gate, probably from the 13th century. - Basilica di San Marco
Basilica at night. - Ca d'oro
Ca d'oro or the Golden house. One of the best examples of Venetian Gothic architecture. It used to be gilded, therefore its name. - La Vierge du Rosaire
A stunning detail on the painting of The Virgin of the Rosary (1510). - Porziuncola
The Porziuncola in Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. In this tiny church Francis of Assisi understood his vocation. The church is original, but the paintings are much more recent. And yes, the big church was built around this tiny one. - Porziuncola
Frescoes in the Porziuncola by Ilario da Viterbo (1393). - Cathedral
The Orvieto Cathedral was built in 1290-1591, probably designed by Lorenzo Maitani. - Cathedral
The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. - Cathedral
- Cathedral
Insanely beautiful details on the facade. - Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
- Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
- Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Coronation of the Virgin, Filippo Lippi (1467-69). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The ceiling was painted with lapis lazuli. - 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
Built in 1196-1215. - Siena Cathedral
The dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern. - Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
A wonderful ceiling, but these heads are a bit creepy. - 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
More interesting details on the ceiling of the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library, painted by Pinturicchio (1503). - Siena Cathedral
Some details on the ceiling of Piccolomini Library. - Santa Maria Assunta
Madonna con Bambino e i Santi Agostino, Girolamo, Martino e Nicola by Matteo di Giovanni (1463). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
San Regolo by Domenico di Niccolo "Dei Cori" (1435). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna col Bambino tra i Santi Biagio, Giovanni Battista, Nicola e Floriano by Lorenzo di Pietro - Vecchietta (1465). - Virgin Mary and child
I really like the visible hairstyle of Saint Mary. Unusual to see her hair so long and so curly. - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
The Romanesque round church was built in the second half of the 12th century by the Knights Templar. - Monasterio de San Jerónimo
The main chapel of the monastery was built in 1504-1522. A very notable church, the elevated choir and the super busy decorations on the walls and ceiling. - Monasterio de San Jerónimo
A very very busy renaissance church. - Monasterio de San Jerónimo
And the very busy ceiling. - Mexuar
Tiles on the wall of the Mexuar Council Hall, which served as the entrance to the Nasrid palace. Plus Ultra was the motto of king Charles V. - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
Such lovely beams under the ceiling. I think the inscription says Seule * as seule etoile, meaning the founder's wife. - Casket in Salle Saint-Louis
A 15th century casket shows a woman plaiting a crown and a man playing a harp. - Beaune Polyptych
The Polyptych altarpiece of the Last Judgement by Rogier van der Wayden, dating from ~1446. Opened central panel shows Christ on a rainbow and Archangel Michael below him with the scale to weigh souls, with heaven being on the left and hell on the right. - Beaune Polyptych detail
The red angel above Nicolas Rolin's head holds a golden helmet. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A magnificent stained glass window. But I have no idea how old it is. May be old, but my uneducated guess would say quite recent. - Château de Chenonceau
Another magninficent fireplace, this one is in the Salon Louis XIV. The salamander and the ermine are the symbols of Francis I and his wife Claude of France. - Château de Chenonceau
Chambre de Louise de Lorraine, the black room. She was mourning the death of her husband Henri III. - Château de Chambord
The queen's bedchamber is furnished as a 17th century bedroom. - Château de Chambord
Louis XIV's ceremonial apartment. While Francoise's bedroom looked cosy, this one is too grand for my liking. - Mont Dol
Mont Dol has been inhabited since Neanderthal period. Currently there's Notre Dame de l’Espérance and the Notre Dame tower, inaugurated in 1857. - Mont Saint-Michel
I am fascinated by 13th century statues, my kids by 19th century swords. Made by Mellerio from Paris in 1877. - 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. - 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. - The Arian Baptistery
More unidentified apostles. Are we supposed to tell them apart based only on their beards? Another mystery are the (greek?) letters on their coats. - The Arian Baptistery
The medallion shows the young Christ in the middle, river Jordan on the left (with red crab claws?) and John the Baptist on the right. Above Christ is a dove (the Holy Spirit). One does not often see a naked Christ. - The Arian Baptistery
Only the ceiling remains decorated - but what decoration it is! Basically: the baptism of Jesus and twelve apostles. - The Arian Baptistery
Saints Peter and Paul lead a procession of five apostles towards the cross on an empty throne (representing God the Father?). In this Arian baptistery, the Father is above the Christ, possibly indicating the Arian beliefs. Saint Paul on the left, Saint Peter on the right. The rest I don't know. - The Arian Baptistery
As always, beautiful decorations everywhere. - The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Andrew - The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Bartholomew - The Orthodox Baptistery
Saint Jacob