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Tourists enjoy a view of one of the most popular attractions in St Petersburg - The Church of the Savior on Blood.
The Church of the Savior on Blood was built on the site where Emperor Alexander II was assassinated and was dedicated in his memory. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Saint Petersburg.
A majestic example of medieval architecture, the Castle of the Princes of Acaja towers over Fossano’s historic center with its corner towers and inner courtyard. Built in the 14th century as a fortress, it was later transformed into a noble residence, preserving its grandeur and timeless charm.
The Fort of Exilles, located in the Susa Valley, was originally built in the 12th century and significantly expanded in the 18th century by the House of Savoy. Strategically positioned along a key Alpine pass, it served as a crucial defensive stronghold against invasions from France, reflecting centuries of military architecture and border conflicts in the region.
Here is Ephesus in Aydın/Türkiye. There was so crowded when i visited there. So, i’ve decided to take long exposure photo. I can eliminate people with this way. And i could have this photo; People seem like ghosts in this beautiful ancient city.
Bayram Sabahı kalabalığında istediğim rahatlıkta çekemedim. Simetri ve ışık ideal ölçülerde değil. Ama o da olacak ...
Bu fotoğraf Bilim Teknik Dergisi Ocak 2011 de 518. sayısında kullanılmıştır
The Royal Palace of Venaria, located just outside Turin, was built in 1675 by Duke Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy as a grand hunting lodge and summer residence. A masterpiece of Baroque architecture, it was designed to showcase the power and refinement of the House of Savoy, with vast gardens, opulent halls, and an expansive park. Abandoned and later restored in the 21st century, La Venaria Reale is now one of Italy’s most spectacular cultural landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage site, symbolizing both the splendor and resilience of Savoyard heritage.
With elegant rhythm and commanding presence, this view captures one of the many grand arches and fluted Corinthian columns of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Originally conceived by architect Bernard Maybeck for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, the structure was meant to evoke a fallen Roman ruin—romantic, reflective, and timeless. But what was designed to be ephemeral has become a fixture of the city’s cultural and architectural identity.
In this photo, the massive columns dominate the foreground, their verticality drawing the eye upward toward the intricately carved capitals and open arch beyond. A soft, diffused sky offers contrast to the warm-toned faux-stonework of the Palace, which was originally made of wood and plaster, but rebuilt in concrete during the 1960s to preserve its beauty for generations to come. The symmetry of urns and repeating architectural motifs reinforces the Beaux-Arts principles that guided its design.
Seen through the arch is a glimpse of the colonnade and gardens that circle the central rotunda, reminding us how Maybeck’s vision was not just architectural, but experiential—meant to inspire awe, reverence, and quiet contemplation. Today, the Palace remains one of the most photographed and cherished spaces in the city. Locals walk their dogs here, wedding parties pose beneath its arches, and visitors marvel at how ephemeral design became eternal. The silence of the image captures that quiet San Francisco magic—where grandeur and grace still coexist.
...
En güzel mabedi olsun diye en son dinin
Budur öz şekli hayal ettiği mimarının.
Görebilsin diye sonsuzluğu her yerden iyi,
Seçmiş İstanbul'un ufkunda bu kudsi tepeyi;
Taşımış harcını gazileri, serdarıyle,
Taşı yenmiş nice bin işcisi, mimarıyle.
Hür ve engin vatanın hem gece, hem gündüzüne,
Uhrevi bir kapı açmiş buradan gökyüzüne,
Taa ki geçsin ezeli rahmete ruh orduları..
Bir neferdir bu zafer mabedinin mimari.
Ulu mabed! Seni ancak bu sabah anlıyorum;
Ben de bir varisin olmakla bügün mağrurum;
Bir zaman hendeseden abide zannettimdi;
Kubben altında bu cumhura bakarken şimdi,
Senelerden beri ru'yada görüp özlediğim
Cedlerin mağfiret iklimine girmiş gibiyim.
Dili bir, gönlü bir, imanı bir insan yığını
Görüyor varliğının bir yere toplandığını;
...
Yahya Kemal
A woman tends to the candles in the Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra monastery.
Saint Alexander Nevsky Lavra was founded by Peter I of Russia in 1710. The monastery was founded also to house the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky, patron of the newly founded Russian capital.
Dramatic light over Smolny Convent in St Petersburg, Russia.
Smolny Convent is located on the bank of the River Neva in Saint Petersburg, Russia and consists of a cathedral and a complex of buildings surrounding it, originally intended for a convent. The convent's main church, a blue-and-white building, is considered to be one of the architectural masterpieces of the Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.
The skyline of Ghent, as seen from the Belfry, beautifully showcases the architectural diversity of the city encompassing both the old and the new. Constructed during a time when medieval European cities aimed to establish their autonomy and self-governance, the Belfry of Ghent served as a representation of the city's growing influence and independence from feudal lords and monarchs. One of its key roles was that of a watchtower and alarm system. Equipped with bells, it functioned as a lookout point for guards and watchmen to monitor potential threats like fires, enemy attacks, and emergencies, alerting the population if danger arose.
Furthermore, the Belfry played a practical role in storing important city documents, records, charters, and valuable items such as city funds and legal texts. It served as a repository of civic treasures, contributing to the city's administration and historical preservation. Built over several centuries, with its oldest sections dating back to the 14th century, the Belfry stands as a tangible link to Ghent's medieval history and significance. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it remains a prominent landmark and a popular tourist attraction, offering us a chance to witness the city's evolution and heritage from a panoramic perspective – Belfry, Ghent, Belgium.
Assassin's Creed: Venice 1486 - Chapter 1 - Osservare
So this is where i worked on for the past 3years (on and of). Approximately 3000 hours and 250.000 parts later I present to you with great pride and incredible detail; Venice 1486 as it might have looked in the 15th century.
This is the first chapter of a total of 4, in which I'll take you into an adventure of Darion as a Master Assassin.
Let me know what you think 🙏
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"Osservare" in the English tongue better known as Observing. By far the most boring thing about finding your mark, but absolutely necessary.
Meet 'Darion Aiulf da Fortebraccio' and his eyes and ears in the sky 'Gaita' an Italian barn owl. Darion is a Venetian nobleman, and to others unknown also a Master Assassin and former member of the Italian Brotherhood of Assassins.
Abandoned by his brothers and mentor for disobedience. He now is a solitary assassin that seeks his targets through the signs of god. For his next mark, faith steered Darion in the direction of the Templar order. Who now have a foothold on Venice city grounds and even managed to get the newly elected doge 'Marco Barbarigo' on their side. Marco openly expressed his support for the Templar Order...
And so this is where our story begins!
Where other men blindly follow the truth, Remember, nothing is true.
Where other men are limited by morality or law, Remember, everything is permitted.
We work in the dark to serve the light.
We are assassins!
#lego #toy #toys #moc #afol #venice #venezia #italia #italy #art #artist #medieval #historocal #historic #architecture #historicarchitecture #historicalarchitecture #legoartist #legocreator #legoarchitecture #legodesign #legomoc #ac2 #assassinscreed #legoassassinscreed #legophotography #legomania #legogram #legofan
Angled upward to show details of Ionic columns. Old Collin County courthouse, historic downtown McKinney, TX.
The Cathedral of the Assumption in Saluzzo, built between 1491 and 1501, is a striking example of late Gothic architecture. Its brick façade, adorned with statues and frescoed lunettes, stands as a symbol of the city's spiritual and artistic heritage.
Casa Cavassa, a refined Renaissance residence in the historic heart of Saluzzo, was transformed in the late 15th century by Marquis Michele Antonio di Saluzzo into an elegant urban palace blending medieval structure with Renaissance elegance. Today home to the Civic Museum Casa Cavassa, it preserves original frescoes, stuccoes, and period furnishings, offering a rare glimpse into the domestic life and artistic tastes of the noble elite in the Marquisate of Saluzzo. Its harmonious courtyard and richly decorated interiors reflect the cultural flourishing of this independent Piedmontese state before its absorption into the Duchy of Savoy.
Bathed in golden sunlight and framed by a brilliant blue sky, this striking yellow turret is one of the most recognizable features of the Palácio Nacional da Pena—Pena Palace—in Sintra, Portugal. Rising dramatically from its mountain perch, the tower exemplifies the Romantic architectural style that defines this 19th-century masterpiece. With its onion-shaped dome, Moorish horseshoe arches, and playful crenellations, it embodies the palace’s dreamlike fusion of European and Islamic influences—a testament to the creative vision of King Ferdinand II, known as “the Artist King.”
Built between 1842 and 1854 atop the ruins of a medieval monastery, Pena Palace was conceived not as a royal fortress but as a celebration of imagination. Ferdinand II sought to merge architectural elements from Portugal’s past—Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, and Moorish—into a single, expressive composition. The result is an architectural fantasy unlike any other in Europe: colorful, theatrical, and deeply symbolic. The yellow-painted façade seen here represents one of the palace’s most vibrant sections, its hue chosen to reflect warmth and optimism while contrasting sharply with the deep red and purple tones elsewhere in the complex.
The minaret-like turret reveals the Romantic fascination with the “exotic”—a 19th-century architectural trend inspired by Portugal’s maritime history and its encounters with distant cultures. The bulbous dome recalls Islamic architecture found in North Africa and the Middle East, while the intricate stone carvings at the windows draw from Manueline motifs, themselves rooted in Portugal’s Age of Discovery. The crenellations along the parapet serve both ornamental and defensive symbolism, evoking medieval castles yet rendered here with whimsical exaggeration.
From this vantage point, one can almost feel the grandeur of the Serra de Sintra unfolding below. The crisp Atlantic air, the distant sea, and the lush forests surrounding the palace all combine to heighten the otherworldly effect of the structure. Standing before it feels like stepping into a storybook where architecture becomes poetry and color becomes emotion.
Today, the Palácio Nacional da Pena stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated not only for its architectural innovation but also for the way it harmonizes with the surrounding landscape. Its vivid palette and romantic forms have inspired generations of artists, architects, and travelers, who see in its whimsical towers a reminder that creativity and imagination are timeless.
The yellow turret, glowing against the sky, remains a perfect symbol of that vision—an architectural exclamation point crowning one of the world’s most enchanting palaces.
Turin Cathedral, consecrated in 1500, is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture and the spiritual heart of the city. Commissioned by Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, it was designed by Meo del Caprina and houses the revered Holy Shroud—a linen cloth believed by many to bear the image of Christ. Though modest in size compared to other cathedrals, its elegant proportions, Renaissance chapels, and intimate atmosphere reflect the deep religious devotion of the House of Savoy. The adjacent Chapel of the Holy Shroud, designed by Guarino Guarini, is a Baroque gem of light and geometry, making the cathedral a unique blend of faith, art, and dynastic symbolism.
These are the remains of Ak-Saray Palace in Shakhrisabz, the hometown of Timur, the renowned conqueror who once ruled a significant portion of Central Asia. He started building this place in 1380, and it took over 20 years to finish.
Most of the palace is gone now, but what's left still gives you an idea of how big and powerful it must have been. The entrance gate was once about 70 meters high—that's as tall as a 20-story building! You can still see parts of the blue and turquoise tiles, as well as the beautiful patterns on the walls.
Timur built this as a summer palace, not just to relax, but also to show off his power and wealth. Even though only pieces remain, it's easy to imagine how impressive this place must have been in its heyday.
The Abbey of San Michele della Chiusa, perched atop Mount Pirchiriano, stands on a site of ancient religious significance. According to legend, Saint Michael appeared here in the 4th century, leading to the construction of a sanctuary. The current Romanesque and Gothic abbey, developed from the 10th century onward, became a major pilgrimage destination on the route to Santiago de Compostela and remains a masterpiece of medieval architecture and spiritual tradition.
Golden light reflects off the Palace of Westminster during a quiet Christmas morning in London.
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Palace lies on the Middlesex bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster, in central London. The original palace was destroyed by a fire. The subsequent competition for the reconstruction of the Palace was won by architect Charles Barry and his design for a building in the Perpendicular Gothic style.Construction started in 1840 and lasted for thirty years, suffering great delays and cost overruns, as well as the death of the leading architect.
Shuttleworth House was used as a hospital during both World War I and World War II, providing care to wounded soldiers and airmen. In World War I, it served as a convalescent hospital, and during WWII, it functioned as an auxiliary hospital for airmen, supporting the war effort.
The Mural on the ceiling of the first floor lobby was painted by commercial artist Daniel MacMorris of Kansas City. The mural depicts industry, culture, law and municipal administration in Houston.
Colors of dusty pink, saffron and rosy red were used to blend with the marble and the soft lighting in the lobby.
The centerpiece of the mural is a plaster relief of the Western hemisphere, with the star of Houston in the center. The relief is surrounded by the signs of the zodiac.
City Hall also was one of the first totally air-conditioned office buildings in Houston.
The Inverness Castle keeping watch over the River Ness.
Jonathan Reid | Travel | Architecture | Facebook |
A dramatic sunset frames the Alexander Nevskey Cathedral. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions.
Twilight colours frame the Alhambra complex in a magical looking scene.
The Alhambra is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It was originally constructed as a small fortress in 889 and then largely ignored until its ruins were renovated and rebuilt in the mid 11th century by the Berber king of the Kingdom of Granada who built its current palace and walls. It was later converted into a royal palace in 1333.
Casa Cavassa, a refined Renaissance residence in the historic heart of Saluzzo, was transformed in the late 15th century by Marquis Michele Antonio di Saluzzo into an elegant urban palace blending medieval structure with Renaissance elegance. Today home to the Civic Museum Casa Cavassa, it preserves original frescoes, stuccoes, and period furnishings, offering a rare glimpse into the domestic life and artistic tastes of the noble elite in the Marquisate of Saluzzo. Its harmonious courtyard and richly decorated interiors reflect the cultural flourishing of this independent Piedmontese state before its absorption into the Duchy of Savoy.
Lagnasco Castle is a striking architectural ensemble, shaped by centuries of transformation from the 11th to the 16th century. Comprising three main wings – eastern, central, and western – the complex reflects its evolution from medieval fortress to Renaissance noble residence. Surrounded by gardens and courtyards, the castle preserves frescoes, ornamental details, and structural elements that narrate the legacy of the Marquises of Busca and the Tapparelli d’Azeglio family.
The Torre Civica (Civic Tower) of Saluzzo, rising in the heart of the town’s historic center, was built in the 13th century as a symbol of communal power and civic pride. Adjacent to the former Piazza del Comune, it served multiple roles: a watchtower for spotting danger, a bell tower to mark the hours and summon citizens, and a stronghold during periods of unrest. Its simple yet imposing stone structure reflects medieval military architecture, while its survival through centuries of change makes it one of Saluzzo’s most enduring landmarks. Restored in recent years, the Torre Civica stands today as a testament to the town’s communal past and its legacy as a free city within the Marquisate.
Multiple foot bridges connect the buildings at Butlers Wharf in London.
Butler's Wharf is an English historic building on the south bank of the River Thames, just east of London's Tower Bridge, now housing luxury flats and restaurants. Lying between the picturesque street Shad Thames and the Thames Path, it overlooks both the bridge and St Katharine Docks on the other side of the river. Butler's Wharf is also used as a term for the surrounding area.