- Chamonix
A lovely house in the centre of Chamonix: an hommage to great climbers and sportsmen who lost their lives. - Clothes Chest
The 16th century box shows the baptism of Christ surrounded by sphinxes and people on scrolls. The corners show Indians crowned with fruits, in reference to the recent discovery of the Americas. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
Chapel of Saint Leger or the Chapel of the Cardinal Jean Rolin (15th century). The paintings by Pierre Spicre depict the raising of Lazarus and Saint Martha on the right. - Basilique Notre-Dame de Beaune
A lovely detail in the chapel of Saint Leger. - Vézelay Abbey
The ones who have not yet received the Word of God are not quite human: some are dwarfes... - Vézelay Abbey
... and some have elephant ears. - Château de Chenonceau
Lions on a 16th century Flemish tapestry. Their faces seem somewhat off. - Château de Chenonceau
Diane de Poitiers as Diana the Huntress by Le Primatice from 1556. Diana was the mistress of King Henry II and, among other things, expanded the castle across the river and built some gardens. - Bayeux Cathedral
Plenty of 13th century decoration in the church. This is the chapel of St. Thomas Becket, lower part showing scenes with Saint Nicolas and a crucifixion. - Bayeux Cathedral
Saint Peter holding the keys to heaven. A 15th century fresco in the crypt. - Plage de Cherrueix
Such an impressionist view! Hot air and water reflections do their magic. - Hall of Destiny
The ceiling in the Hall of Destiny: Lusitania, surrounded by the Portugal kings. Afonso Henriques, who has the Book of Destinies of Portugal, is surrounded by Hugues Capet, King of France, and Henry of Burgundy, father of Afonso Henriques. - Porto Azzurro
Via Nardelli Vincenzo - Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale, built in 1340 (and extended later). - The Four Tetrachrs
The Four Tetrachrs are the four rulers that simultaneously governed the Roman Empire. The statue is from the 4th century, made in Porphyry and was originally in Constantinople. - Basilica di San Marco
Another detail from the Basilica's facade. - Detail on Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale: a detail on one of the columns (the same column as the Judgment of Solomon). - Palazzo Ducale
Unfortunately, the palace was closed. Not enough tourists? - Narthex of the Basilica
Arch of Paradise above the entrance to the Basilica. - Piazzetta di San Marco
- Basilica di San Marco
A detail on the southern facade of the Basilica - Porta della Carta
Built in 1438–43, probably by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon. Doge Francisco Foscari is kneeling before the Lion. - Piazzetta di San Marco
The Piazzetta between the Doge's Palace and Jacopo Sansovino's Biblioteca with the two columns with Saint Theodore and the winged lion. - Campanile
Built in the 10th-16th century, and rebuilt in 1902 after the original one collapsed. Originally a watchtower and a "lighthouse". - Narthex of the Basilica
Mosaic in the narthex, depicting Death of Noah, the Tower of Babel (1200s) and the Story of Abraham (1230). - Palazzo Ducale
- Ponte dei Sospiri
Prisoners were taken through this bridge to the prison. - Piazza San Marco
Piazza in the times of Covid, wonderfully empty. - Basilica di San Marco
From the 11th century, inspired by Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. - Basilica di San Marco
The roof of the Basilica with Saint Mark, his winged lion and the protecting angels. - St. Alipius Gate
West facade of the Basilica with the symbols of the four evangelists. - 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. - Libreria Acqua Alta
Well, some people call treating the books like this charming. I don't. - Scuola Grande di San Marco
A trompe-l'oeil archway detail on the facade. - Scuola Grande di San Marco
More great optical illusions on the facade. - Santa Maria dei Miracoli
This marble church was built between 1481 and 1489, designed by Pietro Lombardo. - Ponte dei Sospiri
The view from this bridge was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. Even the window bars are made of stone. - Ponte dei Sospiri
The Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge's Palace with the New Prison. - Procuratie Vecchie
Procurator of Saint Mark was the second most prestigious title (after the Doge). This was their office. - Procuratie Vecchie
The facade is made of Istrian limestone. - Basilica di San Marco
Basilica at night. - Ponte di Rialto
The oldest of the main four bridges in Venice. Finished in 1591. - 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. - A mascaron
Santa Maria Formosa. A mascaron above the main door to the campanile. - Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Snail's staircase. Another hidden gem. - Campanile di Santo Stefano
Well, that is a very tilted bell tower. - Modern art
Well, modern art at is finest. Who wouldn't want a rhino in the living room? - Punk Mona Buda?
I can totally imagine Jared Leto owning this. - Piazza San Marco
- 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. - History of Lisbon
A complete Lisbon history in one passage. Mural by Nuno Saraiva. Every city should have a mural like this one. - Tiles in Alfama
Finding little treasures while getting lost in Alfama. - Rosa dos Ventos
View from the Monument of the Discoveries. A wind rose and a world map. - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
Fado singers at the dinner - 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). - Room of discoveries
Ceiling in the Room of Discoveries by Bernardo António de Oliveira Góis (c. 1770-c. 1820) and Cyrillo Volkmar Machado (1748-1823). - Music room
The ceiling in the Music room. Apparently there is wonderful acoustic in this room. Not if it is crowded with tourists... - Monserrate Main Hall
The ceiling in the Main hall. - Chalet of the Countess of Edla
The ceiling in the Grand Hallway. The whole chalet is very very colourful. - Chalet of the Countess of Edla
All the rooms are insanely beautiful, but this Dining room, with cork and wood, is probably my favourite. - Convento dos Capuchos
The Door of Death is the entrance to the monastery. - Panda Bâ
Panda Bâ by Julien Marinetti, it was placed here just two weeks prior to our visit. - Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune
The ceiling in the Room of the Poor is an upside-down boat-skiff shape. - 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. - Tapestry
A magnificent almost 8 m long "thousand flowers" tapestry is from the 16th century. What an interesting motif... - 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. - 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 - Château de Chenonceau
Chambre des Cinq Reines Room of the daughters and daughters-in-law of Catherine de Médicis: La Reine Margot, Elisabeth of France, Maria Stuart (wife of François II), Elisabeth of Austria (wife of Charles IX), and Louise of Lorraine (wife of Henri III). - Château de Chenonceau
La chambre de Catherine de Médicis The rooms were quite cosy with fireplaces, wooden ceilings and the walls covered with Flemish tapestries. - Château de Chambord
One of the famous Flemish tapestries commissioned by Francis I in 1532. It depicts the story of Scipio Africanus, the Roman General who defeated Carthage. The oxen are taken to the temple of Jupiter to be sacrificed, while the elephants and camels carry the wealth brought back from Africa. - 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. - Cairn of Barnenez
Art exhibition by local kids. Love it! - Serpent d'ocean
... to see the Serpent d'ocean. Made by Huang Yong Ping in 2012. - Serpent d'ocean
Unfortunately, there was high tide so we could not walk to the serpent.