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.

Château de Chambord
The residences of François Ier include a large wardrobe and closet. They surely dressed ... royally.

Bayeux Cathedral
Statue of Saint Bartholomew in the cathedral.

Pomposa Abbey
The Crucifixion in the Chapter House, by a direct student of Giotto, probably between 1310 and 1318.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The mosaics in the mausoleum are from the year 450. Let that sink in. The year 450.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
The decoration in the dome: starry ceiling and the symbols of the Evangelists. Underneath are the apostles.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
What an insanely beautiful piece of work!

Basilica of San Vitale

The Arian Baptistery
Another apostle with a very unusual beard - or rather mustache and sideburns. This could be Ostrogothic fashion (it certainly isn't Roman).

The Arian Baptistery
They look very much alike, but the hair and beards are different. So in principle, one could tell them apart.

The Arian Baptistery
One of the younger apostles.

The Arian Baptistery
Could be Saint Andrew.

The Orthodox Baptistery
The next circle has four Gospels on altars and four empty thrones with crosses and garments.

Saint Andrew's Chapel
The ceiling in the narthex. Plenty of different birds, most notably the famous ducks, and the white lilies.

Saint Andrew's Chapel
Narthex of the chapel depicting Christ dressed as Roman emperor, standing on a lion and a snake (Psalm 91). His book says EGO SVM VIA VERITAS ET VITA - I am the way, the truth, the life. The top part is original mosaic, the bottom part is just painted!

Saint Andrew's Chapel
Apse of the chapel is also painted. Not a mosaic.

Saint Andrew's Chapel
I told you it was fake. Just painted on the wall. Oh well.

Saint Andrew's Chapel
One of the angels on the ceiling.

Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Jacob

Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Mark's lion holding the thickest Gospel - despite Mark's Gospel being the shortest of all four.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Christ on the throne with four angels. Unfortunately not all is original, Christ's right side and the two right angels are 19th century reconstructions.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
A procession of 26 martyrs, including Saint Apollinaris, led by Saint Martin of Tours. Following are Pope Clements, Pope Sixtus, Saint Laurentius (in gold), Saint Hippolitus, Pope Cornelius (who is pointing towards), Saint Cyprian ...

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Iohannes, his brother Paulus, Vitalis (the basilica Vitalis), Gervasius, Protasius, Ursicinus, Namor, Felix ...

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. Plenty of roses and lilies everywhere and the typical gold Byzantine background.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Walking towards the Madonna is a procession of 22 virgins, led by the Three Magi. These are Saints Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes (with a lamb), Agatha.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
6th century censorship. When the church became Orthodox, they 'erased' the Arians/Goths from the images, leaving only their praying hands. One can still see their halos above the curtains.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Vincentius, Pancratius, Chrysogonus, Protus ... And these are not all of them.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
I love their fashion sense. They all wear Phrygian caps and - quite unusually -fancy trousers.

Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Saint Calocerus (Calogero!), died in 130, a martyr from the times of Hadrian. Apparently remembered on February 11th.

Classe
Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe was consecrated on 9 May 549 by the bishop Maximian.

Classe
I took this picture because of the lion. Then I noticed the bull... Holy cow, what did they do to its face?

Classe
The Hand of God. In the old times, depicting God was unacceptable, so only his hand was shown.

Cathedral

Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
Founded in the 7th century. Built on Etruscan/Roman remains, rebuilt in the 12-14th century.

Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna e angeli adoranti Gesu Bambino by Bernardino Fungai (1490)

La Madonna del pilastro
A copy of Madonna con Bambino by Sano di Petro, dating from the 15th century. It was given the name because the painting is on a pillar ...

Detail
Detail of a lovely window grill.

Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
The Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1876-1884.

Pont Sarrazin
An old bridge in Massif de l'Esterel.

Museo Arcivescovile
Throne of Maximianus with his monogram M and X, showing Saint John the Baptist and the four evangelists.

Museo Arcivescovile
An altar by Matteo Magnante (2010) in the front. An old clergy cope in the back.

St. Francis Xavier church
The interior of the church is very well preserved early baroque.

Laghetto delle Conche
There was almost no water in the lake - but just enough to capture these reflections.

Julius Meinl Haus
Handelshaus Julius Meinl, 1899, Fleischmarkt 7.

Julius Meinl Haus
Handelshaus Julius Meinl, 1899, Fleischmarkt 7.

Jesuitenkirche
The Jesuit (University) Church, built in 1620s and redecorated by Andrea Pozzo in 1703. What a brilliant optical illusion!

Jesuitenkirche
Interior of the Jesuit church, by Andrea Pozzo, 1703.

Jesuitenkirche, fake dome
The Jesuit (University) Church, built in 1620s and redecorated by Andrea Pozzo in 1703. What a brilliant optical illusion. This is the "dome" from the other side.

Jesuitenkirche
Interior of Jesuit Church

615 € ?!?
Is it just me or is 615 € for a pair of (such) sneakers insanely expensive?

Gold
A 36 kg gold "nugget", Zarewo Alexandrowskoi, Miask, Ural, Russia. A copy.

Pyrite
Pyrite or fool's gold, iron(II) disulfide, Amejun, Soria, Spain

Nat Geo moment

Ankeruhr
Hoher Markt, the clock was made in 1914.

Biblioteca Malatestiana
The oldest European civic library, opened since 1454. Cesena.

Titus Lucretius Carus - De Rerum Natura (On the Nature of Things)
Biblioteca Malatestiana in Cesena. Unfortunately I don't know how old this copy is.

Neume initial
Biblioteca Malatestiana, Cesena.

Jabir ibn Aflah (Geber) - Correction of the Almagest
Original is from the 12th century. Biblioteca Malatestiana in Cesena.

Polyptych by Piero della Francesca
The Polyptych of the Misericordia by Piero della Francesca. In Museo Civico Sansepolcro.

Polyptych by Piero della Francesca
The Polyptych of the Misericordia by Piero della Francesca. Museo Civico, Sansepolcro.

The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca
The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca. A detail. Museo Civico, Sansepolcro.

Polyptych by Niccolò di Segna
Resurrection Polyptych by Niccolò di Segna (c. 1348). Altar in Sansepolcro Cathedral.

Holy Face (12th century)
Holy Face (12th century), originally from Eastern Europe. Notice that Jesus is fully dressed. Sansepolcro cathedral.

Orvieto Cathedral
Orvieto Cathedral (1290-1590). On average a 14th century cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. In rain.

The rose window by Orcagna
The rose window by Orcagna (1354-1380) Orvieto cathedral.

Facade
Orvieto cathedral.

The apse of Orvieto cathedral
The apse in Orvieto cathedral dates from 1370. Frescoes by the local artist Ugolino di Prete Ilario are dedicated to the life of Mary.

Chapel of the Corporal
Chapel of the Corporal (1350-1356) by Ugolino di Prete Ilario. Orvieto cathedral.

Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio in Orvieto cathedral
Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio. Ressurection of the Flesh, Luca Signorelli in 1499. Orvieto cathedral.

San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto Cathedral
San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto Cathedral. Christ in Judgment by Fra Angelico and Benozzo Gozzoli.

San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto Cathedral
San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto Cathedral. The Elect in Paradise by Luca Signorelli (1499).

San Brizio Chapel, Orvieto Cathedral

Chapel of the Corporal, Orvieto Cathedral
Chapel of the Corporal, Orvieto Cathedral

Crucifixion from mid-13th century
Crucifixion from mid-13th century. Todi cathedral

John the Baptist
John the Baptist - Window in Todi Cathedral

Todi Cathedral crypt
Statue of Madonna and Child (12th century) as Seat of Wisdom (Sedes sapientiae).

A statue by Raba Rama
Seen in Artenate Gallery in Todi.

Spoleto Cathedral
Spoleto Cathedral (12th century). Dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Spoleto Cathedral, interior

Coronation of the Virgin
Coronation of the Virgin, Filippo Lippi (1467-69). Spoleto Cathedral

Coronation of the Virgin
Coronation of the Virgin by Filippo Lippi (1467-69). Spoleto Cathedral

Santuario della Porziuncola in Assisi
Around the shrine the whole giant church was built to protect it. Notice the frescoes inside the church inside the church. This was one of the churches that Saint Francis restored and the Franciscan movement started.

Triptych of Perugia
Triptych of Perugia (1275), Maestro del Trittico Marzolini. Madonna and the Child; life of Christ on the left; Passion on the right. Commissioned by the Templars. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Triptych of Perugia
Triptych of Perugia (1275), Maestro del Trittico Marzolini, detail. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Triptych of Perugia
Triptych of Perugia (1275), Maestro del Trittico Marzolini, detail Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Two-sided Crucifix
Two-sided Crucifix (1272), Maestro di San Francesco. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Crucifix
Crucifix (1305-1320) Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Triptych
Triptych (1365) by Bartolo di Fredi, detail. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

John the Baptist
John the Baptist from Polyptich (1455) by Mariano di Antonio. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Predella panel St Peter Martyr
Predella panel St Peter Martyr, Madonna della Pergolata (1446-47) by Giovanni Boccati. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Madonna della Pergolata
Madonna della Pergolata (1446-47) by Giovanni Boccati. Madonna and Child with the Doctors of the Church (Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine and Gregory) and choir angels under a flowery pergola. In the foreground Saint Dominic and Saint Francis commend four of the brothers. But - why do they have HOLES in the habit?!? Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Madonna dell’ Orchestra
Madonna dell’ Orchestra (1450) by Giocanni Boccati. A goldfinch is pecking the finger of Jesus. It is a symbol of the Passion because it feeds among thorns. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

St Antony of Padua Polyptych
St Antony of Padua Polyptych (ca. 1468) by Piero della Francesca. Madonna and the Child, Saint Antony of Padua and John the Baptist (left) and Saint Francis and Elizabeth of Hungary (right). Annunciation (top). Saint Clara and Agatha bottom left and right. Saint Antony, Saint Francis and Saint Elisabeth (predella). Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Guidalotti Polyptych
Guidalotti Polyptych (1447) by Fra Angelico. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Guidalotti Polyptych
Guidalotti Polyptych (1447) by Fra Angelico. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

St Antony of Padua Polyptych
St Antony of Padua Polyptych (ca. 1468) by Piero della Francesca. Annunciation (top). Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

St Antony of Padua Polyptych
St Antony of Padua Polyptych (ca. 1468) by Piero della Francesca. Madonna and the Child. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Panels from a triptych
Panels from a triptych (1460s) by Giovanni Francesco da Rimini. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.

Angel Gabriel
Angel Gabriel, Annunciation with St Luke (1450-1453) by Benedetto Bonfigli. Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Perugia.