Architecture – Natalie the Explorer

5 Grand Piazzas of Rome

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024Natalie83 Comments

When in Rome in March, I took a 3.2 km (2 miles) walk to visit five piazzas (public squares) and fountains in the Eternal City. Rome’s piazzas are the centre of daily life. Come along and let me know what you think of the sights we see.

1. Piazza Navona

The Baroque-style Piazza Navona is built on the site where the Stadium of Domitian (Circus Agonalis), founded in 86 A.D., once stood. The most imposing buildings which look onto the square are the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone and the Palazzo Pamphilj.

The most beautiful parts of Piazza Navona are its three fountains: Fountain of Neptune on the north end, Fountain of the Moor on the south end and Fountain of the Four Rivers with an obelisk in the centre of the square.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers was designed by Bernini in 1651. The four statues represent the most important rivers of the continents where Christianity had spread: the Nile with a lion (Africa), Danube with a horse (Europe), the Ganges with a dragon (Asia) and Rio de la Plata with an armadillo (America).

2. Piazza della Rotunda and the Pantheon

The Pantheon of Agrippa, also known as the Roman Pantheon, completed in 126 A.D., is the best preserved building from ancient Rome. I recommend entering the Pantheon to appreciate the awe-inspiring architecture:

The rectangular facade is comprised of 16 granite columns which are each 14 meters in height.
The circular building at the back has exactly the same diameter as its height: 43.5 metres.
At its top, the enormous dome 9-meter diameter opening allows natural light to illuminate the entire building.

3. Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762, is the largest fountain in Rome. The name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three streets. The fountain shows statues of Tritons guiding the shell chariot of the god Oceanus, illustrating the theme of the taming of the waters. There are always people throwing coins in the water of Trevi Fountain. To find out why and what happens to the coins, click here.

4. Piazza de Spagna and the Spanish Steps

Piazza de Spagna (Square of Spain) is where the majestic Spanish Steps, the longest and widest decorative steps in Europe, are located. At the bottom of the Spanish Steps is the Fountain of the Ugly Boat!

The Fountain of the Ugly Boat (Fontana della Barcaccia) was designed by Pietro Bernini, father of the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who later helped with the creation. It was finished in 1627 and placed by Pope Urban III in the centre of Piazza di Spagna. It is shaped as a boat and has the emblems of the Barberini family (the Noble family of Pope Urban III), bees and a sun engraved.

5. Piazza della Republica

At the centre of the Piazza della Republica stands the majestic Fountain of the Nymphs (Fontana delle Naiadi) depicting four nymphs riding on sea monsters. It was constructed between 1870 and 1888 and decorated with four lion sculptures. In 1901 the lions were replaced by the statues of four water nymphs.

Piazza della Republica and Fountain of the Nymphs

One of the four nymphs riding on a sea monster

I hope you enjoy the walk. Thank you for coming along.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #159 below.

Postcards from Italy

March 29, 2024April 2, 2024Natalie98 Comments

March was full of explorations, discoveries and marvellous moments at home and abroad. I returned to Italy and Vatican City for a second visit in the first half of March. Italy offers plenty of beautiful architecture, world class art, rich history, culture, culinary delights, scenic nature and more.

Let me catch you up on Italy first. I plan to write about my visit to Vatican City in another post. Here’s a sampling of what I explored when I was in Italy.

Venice and Murano

My adventures in Italy began with a boat ride from Venice airport to my hotel. The following days, I enjoyed exploring Venice through the maze of alleyways and bridges on foot and by boat. I visited St. Mark’s Square (a World Heritage Site), Doge’s Palace, the Basilica, the Bell and Clock Towers, as well as Murano known for its artistic and colourful glassware. My once-in-a-lifetime experience was a gondola ride in the Grand Canal and small waterways of Venice with two musicians performing “Volare” and other beautiful songs in Italian.

Tuscany, Pisa and Florence

After Venice, I travelled through the beautiful landscape of Tuscany, dotted with olive and fig trees. I enjoyed wine tasting paired with delectable local specialties at a vineyard in Tuscany. On to Pisa, I revisited the famous Piazza dei Miracoli and its Leaning Tower. Last time I was here, I climbed 273 stone steps to reach the top. In Florence, I admired amazing art and architecture at Piazza del Duomo (a World Heritage Site), Piazza della Signoria, Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza Santa Maria Novella and bridges along the Arno River, including the iconic Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge).

Assisi and Rome

Reaching Rome, the Eternal city, I revisited several iconic landmarks: The awe-inspiring Roman Forum, the triumphal Arch of Constantine, the mighty Colosseum, churches, huge Roman baths, and grand piazzas of Rome. I took a day trip to the picturesque medieval town of Assisi, best known as the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of Italy. The town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its significant art and architecture.

Cinque Terre and La Spezia

Climbing the steep steps in Cinque Terre (another World Heritage Site) with stunning views of the Ligurian Sea and surrounding hills was a memorable experience for me. In low season, I enjoyed exploring and discovering delightful places and things around every corner in the five villages without crowds.

Heading to La Spezia before returning to Florence for my flight home, I was delighted by La Spezia’s beautiful waterfront, public gardens, churches, castle and vibrant city centre. Another pleasant surprise was a free upgrade to a beautifully furnished and spacious hotel room in Florence. It was a wonderful ending to an amazing trip.

Link-Up

I like to keep in touch with my blogger friends via their link-ups whenever our topics align. This weekend I’m joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Urban Sights photo challenge, Ju-Lyn’s March #TheChangingSeasons and #WBOYC link-up co-hosted by Donna, Sue, Jo and Deb.

I’d love for you to share your March highlights and/ or photos of public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #158 below. So, the first quarter of 2024 is done, tell me what fun plans you have for the second quarter.

9 Best Features in Park Güell

March 15, 2024March 14, 2024Natalie88 Comments

In January 2024, when I revisited Barcelona, one of the places I wanted to revisit is Park Güell. The park is one of Barcelona’s great attractions so advanced ticket purchase is recommended. I was lucky to get a ticket the day before my visit and happily spent about four hours at the park.

Park Güell

Park Güell was named after entrepreneur Eusebi Güell. In 1900, Güell entrusted renowned Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí to design Park Güell. The park was built from 1900 to 1914 and was officially opened as a public park in 1926. In 1984, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site under “Works of Antoni Gaudí“.

What I love about Park Güell:

Beautiful nature, landscape design and art in 12 acres
Organic shapes (curves), natural materials and pretty mosaics (trencadís)
Upper and lower levels provide a nice hike and great views of Barcelona

Here are the nine features that I love at Park Güell in no particular order.

Gaudí Museum House

The Dragon Stairway

The steps of the stairway at the park’s main entrance are symmetrically laid out around the sculpture of a salamander. It is a busy spot with visitors posing and taking pictures so I only got one picture of the salamander.

The Hypostyle Hall

The Hypostyle Hall is a covered area with eighty-six columns supporting the upper Nature Square. It is a grand space to enter from the main entrance of Park Güell.

Hypostyle Hall outer columns and undulating profile of the upper part.

Hypostyle Hall inner columns and ceiling with mosaics of the four seasons.

Nature Square and The Serpentine Bench

Nature Square is a large square conceived of as a central space of the estate, in which social events could be held. Unlike the rest of the park, which tends to adapt to the relief of the terrain, this square is partly dug into the mountain and partly held up by the columns of the Hypostyle Hall.

The Serpentine Bench in the square is one of the most immediately recognizable features in the park. It is made of prefabricated pieces of cement and clad with broken tile mosaics (trencadís).

The Serpentine Bench at Nature Square in Park Güell.

Porter’s Lodge Pavilions

Casa del Garda (left), Park Güell main entrance (centre) and Porter’s Lodge (right). The two pavilions are currently a museum and a gift shop.

Portico of the Washerwoman

The retaining wall that supports the path that traverses the entire Park Güell horizontally takes the form of a portico with the profile of a great wave held aloft by sloping columns. It is popularly known as the Pòrtic de la Bugadera (Portico of the Washerwoman) because of the sculpture on one of the columns.

Palm Tree Promenade

The Gardens

Stone stairways lead to beautiful gardens.

The Viaducts

Upper Viaduct features tall pots planted with agave with small circular benches between them.

Park Güell is an enchanting place. I feel fortunate to have visited this park and enjoy Antoni Gaudí’s unique designs more than once in my lifetime.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #156 below.

Postcards from Spain: Granada, Alicante, Valencia & Barcelona

February 23, 2024February 21, 2024Natalie87 Comments

Today’s post is the last of three in my Postcards from Spain series. The first post on Food & Drink in Spain is here. The second post on Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and Seville is here. As usual, click on any image in the gallery to get a better view and use the arrows to move through the pictures.

Granada

From Seville, the beautiful weather followed me to Granada. I could see snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains in a far distance. The highlight in Granada was a visit to the 13th century Alhambra, served as the residence of the royal family during the reign of the Moors.

This imposing hilltop palace and fortress complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish art and architecture. I booked a guided tour and spent about three hours exploring several stunning palaces and gardens in the Alhambra complex.

Alicante

Alicante was a delightful addition to my itinerary. I enjoyed walking along Alicante’s oceanfront promenade and its long pier, with views of the wide sandy El Postiguet Beach and Santa Barbara Castle on a hilltop. I learned about Casa Carbonell and that the round-the-world The Ocean Race 2022-2023 started in Alicante. I hope to return to Alicante for a longer visit in the future.

Valencia

I love Valencia for its treasure trove of Roman architecture and the huge City of Arts and Sciences designed by contemporary architect and artist Santiago Calatrava, with its extraordinary avant-garde architecture that includes impressive buildings such as the Hemisfèric and Museum of Science. I also love Valencia’s public squares, markets, delicious food and drinks. Would I return to Valencia for a longer stay and more explorations? Definitely.

Calatrava designed many bridges and building projects around the world, including the award-winning Allen Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place and Mimico Pedestrian Bridge in Toronto.

Barcelona

It was wonderful to revisit Barcelona. I took a long walk from Barcelona’s Old Harbor, along the popular La Rambla to Plaza Catalunya, the city’s bustling main square. Lots of things to see and many beautiful buildings along this route.

I passed two of Gaudí’s famous houses Casa Batllo and Casa Milà. Then continued on to view the iconic symbol of Barcelona, Gaudi’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, a colossal church that is legendary and still unfinished.

I revisited Park Güell, my favourite park in Barcelona, for nature and Gaudí’s genius design of organic shapes. I also ascended Montjuic Hill, home to the Olympic Complex, built for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Link-Up

Thank you for reading my postcards. It was a challenge to select which pictures to include as there are many beautiful sites that I explored in Spain. I hope you enjoy my selection.

Please note: No Weekend Coffee Share link-up on March 8 as I will take a short blogging break in March. I will repeat this announcement next week.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #154 below.

Postcards from Spain: Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba & Seville

February 16, 2024February 20, 2024Natalie117 Comments

Today’s post is the second of three in my Postcards from Spain series. The first postcard on Food & Drink in Spain is here. Spain offers plenty of beautiful architecture, world class art, rich history, culture, culinary delights, fun entertainment, and more.

On this trip, I chose to revisit a few favourites and added a few new places to my itinerary. I intentionally spent more time wandering outdoors to take in the sights and sounds in each city than in an indoor space. The weather was sunny and ideal for outdoor walks (15C to 23C or 59F to 73F).

Here is a sampling of what I explored when I was in Spain. Click on any image to see its bigger version and use the arrow to move through the gallery.

Madrid

My favourite walk in Madrid is a 8 km loop (5 miles) that starts and ends in Plaza de España. On this walk, I get to see the magnificent Royal Palace, Miguel de Cervantes Monument (Cervantes is a Spanish writer who is best known for his novel Don Quixote), Plaza Mayor, Prado Museum, the Paseo del Prado promenade lined with sycamore trees, fountains and artwork, the two huge fountains at Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Neptuno, and Gran Via which has many gorgeous buildings.

When I was at the Royal Palace, the Royal Guards on horses were on duty as King Felipe VI’s car exited the palace. I visited Prado Museum and viewed an astonishing collection of masterpieces by Spanish painters Velazquez, Goya and El Greco.

Toledo

From Madrid, a 36-minute train ride whisked me off to Toledo, one of Spain’s most magnificent cities. Toledo is a city of three cultures where you can see the influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews in the same place. Once an Imperial city, Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.

I love walking through Toledo’s medieval gates into its winding streets and exploring its many historic and stunning buildings (see photos below). The views of Toledo from Mirador del Valle are amazing. I was in awe of El Greco masterpiece “The Burial of Count Orgaz” in St. Tome church where photography was allowed.

Córdoba

I revisited the astonishing Great Mosque of Córdoba, one of the largest mosques in the world, built in 785, extended a few times and transformed into a soaring cathedral in the 16th century. I walked the winding streets in Córdoba historic centre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to see the ancient Jewish Quarter, tranquil courtyards, picturesque squares, the 14th century Synagogue and the Roman Bridge.

Seville

I revisited the beautiful Plaza de España and its illustrious tiles and ceramics before visiting the gardens of Maria Luisa Park. I continued to Seville historic centre with a visit to the Cathedral of Seville, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and burial site of Christopher Columbus. Built on the site of the former Great Mosque, its original minaret, the Giralda Bell Tower, still stands.

Link-Up

This post is my contribution to Terri’s Iconic Places and Spaces photography challenge and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-up.

If you have been to Spain, which city is your favourite? If you plan to (re)visit Spain, which city is on your itinerary?

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #153 below.

Doors and Murals in Iceland

November 3, 2023November 7, 2023Natalie87 Comments

When I was in Iceland in August, I visited a number of churches and historic buildings. I also saw a few interesting murals and sculptures. I am putting those photos together in this post.

The door photos are for Dan’s Thursday Doors photo challenge. The murals are for the Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC). Have a look and let me know in the comments if you have a favourite.

Doors in Iceland

The first two pictures were taken in Bessastaðir. Bessastaðir was first settled in 1000. It is an important site in the history of Iceland.

The next two pictures were taken in the countryside. The ‘open door’ farm building is used to dry Greenland shark meat which is considered a delicacy in Iceland.

The next set of pictures were four of the churches that I visited in Iceland:

Reykjavik cathedral which was constructed in 1787 and demolished in 1847 to make way for a somewhat larger church building.
The church in Budir (black exterior with white door and gate) is one of the oldest wooden churches in Iceland. The first church in Budir was built in 1703. It was demolished, rebuilt and opened in 1848.
The present church in Borg á Mýrum (white exterior with red door) was built in 1880.
Bronze doors of Hallgrimskirkja which is the largest church in Iceland at 74.5 metres (244 ft) tall. It took 41 years to build the church: construction started in 1945 and ended in 1986.

Murals in Iceland

At Keflavik international airport, there is a large mural titled Silver Sabler by artist Erró who is best known for his painted pop art collages of images from comic books. The mural is made of ceramic tiles.

I took three close-up pictures to examine the impeccable and impressive artwork in detail.

I also discovered the following two murals while walking in Reykjavik. They both have blue, teal and wine colours. One is whimsical and the other is abstract. No title and no artist’s name on both.

Weekend Coffee Share

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or photos of public art around the world in the Comments or InLinkz #139 below. I’m also linking up with Min’s #WWWHIMSY.

Postcard from Chicago

August 25, 2023August 20, 2023Natalie62 Comments

Greetings! In July I took a four-day trip to Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It was wonderful to see my family there and to revisit some of Chicago’s attractions that I have toured in a previous visit.

One of my favourite activities was the river cruise led by highly trained and enthusiastic Chicago Architecture Center docents (guides). They provide visitors with a compelling and detailed narrative of Chicago’s numerous architectural styles and the stories of the legendary figures who designed and built the city.

Chicago’s Skyscrapers

Here are six of the skyscrapers that caught my attention. Have a look and let me know in the comments if you would like to live or work in any of these buildings.

The Wrigley Building was designed using the shape of the Giralda tower of Seville’s Cathedral in Spain combined with French Renaissance details. The building is clad in glazed terra-cotta, which provides its gleaming white façade.

The Wrigley Building (with clock) beyond Wabash Avenue bridge

The Wrigley towers are of differing heights, with the south tower rising to 30 stories and the north tower to 21 stories. The 425-foot (130 m) south tower was completed in 1921 and the north tower in 1924.

The Tribune Tower, built between 1923 and 1925, is a 36-story, 463-foot-tall (141 m) building. In addition to its notable neo-Gothic design, the structure features fragments from some the world’s most famous structures — the Taj Mahal, Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, and the Great Pyramids — embedded in its exterior.

875 North Michigan Avenue is a 100-story, 1,128-foot (343.8 m) skyscraper with distinctive X-braced exterior. Construction started in 1965 and completed in 1969. When measured to the top of its antenna masts, it stands at 1,500 feet (457 m). The building is home to several offices and restaurants, as well as about 700 condominiums on the residential floors from 44 to 92.

875 North Michigan Avenue, previously known as John Hancock Center.

Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, has been an iconic part of the Chicago skyline since 1973. It is an impressive 110-story, 1,451-foot (442.3 m) skyscraper that was intended to accommodate 16,500 employees. It was the world’s tallest building from 1973 to 1998.

Willis Tower with the broadcast antennae.

The twin corncob towers of Marina City, designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg, were opened between 1963 and 1967. The complex consists of two 587-foot (179 m), 65-story apartment towers, featuring numerous on-site facilities including a theater, gym, swimming pool, ice rink, bowling alley, stores, restaurants, and a small marina giving the structures their name.

Lake Point Tower, a residential skyscraper with distinctive three-wing “Y” shape, was completed in 1968. It is 70-story, approximately 645 feet (197 m) tall, and was the tallest apartment building in the world at that time.

Here is a building that is not a skyscraper. I thought its design looks interesting and its riverfront location must provide amazing views.

Condo building on the bank of the Chicago River

In addition to the river cruise, I enjoyed visiting Navy Pier Park, Millennium Park, Grant Park, Magnificent Mile, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Weekend Coffee Share

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #131 InLinkz below.

Postcard from Philadelphia

July 14, 2023July 10, 2023Natalie96 Comments

Philadelphia (or Philly) is known as the City of Brotherly Love from the literal meaning of the city’s name in Greek: Philos (beloved, dear or loving) and adelphós (brother, brotherly).

A Walkable City

Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn who envisioned the grid of streets that comprise Philadelphia’s downtown (Center City). Two rivers, the Delaware and the Schuylkill, form the east-west boundaries of Center City; Vine Street and South Street form the north-south boundaries.

I greatly appreciate Philadelphia’s walkable downtown and the grid layout of streets. I live a car-free lifestyle at home and love walkable cities when I travel. The 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards announced that Philadelphia has been named the Most Walkable City in the U.S.

There are 26 blocks from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River, a distance of approximately 4 km or 2.5 miles. This means you can walk from one end of Center City Philly to the other in just 50 minutes. However, why rush when you are on holiday?

Sightseeing

I took time to visit and enjoy many historic and artistic sights in Philadelphia’s Centre City. Here are 15 sights in one ‘postcard’. Click on the blue text in caption for more information.

Independence Hall. — 1. Independence Hall, the birthplace of the United States and a World Heritage Site.

The Liberty Bell. — 2. The Liberty Bell bears a timeless message: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof”.

Declaration House. — 3. Declaration House: Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence on this site in 1776.

Reading Terminal Market. — 4. Reading Terminal Market, began operations in 1892. The market is a one-stop shop for local produce, meats, artisanal cheeses, desserts and more.

The China Gate. — 5. The China Gate created by artist Sabrina Soong in 1984 marks the entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

Philadelphia City Hall. — 6. Philadelphia City Hall, seen from Dilworth Plaza, is home to the Philadelphia city government since 1889 and is the largest municipal building in the USA.

LOVE sculpture. — 7. LOVE sculpture (1976) by artist Robert Indiana in LOVE Park/ John F. Kennedy Plaza.

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. — 8. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, opened in 1864, is Philadelphia’s largest brownstone structure.

AMOR sculpture. — 9. AMOR sculpture (1998) by artist Robert Indiana was installed in Sister Cities Park in 2016. AMOR means “love” in both Spanish and Latin.

The Swann Memorial Fountain sculpture. — 10. The Swann Memorial Fountain sculpture created in 1924 by Alexander Stirling Calder. Located in the centre of Logan Square, the fountain memorializes Dr. Wilson Cary Swann, founder of the Philadelphia Fountain Society.

Free Library of Philadelphia. — 11. Free Library of Philadelphia – Opened in 1927, the Central Library was designed in the Beaux Arts style by Horace Trumbauer and Julian Francis Abele. It was built to serve as the main building of the Free Library of Philadelphia, chartered in 1891.

The Benjamin Franklin Parkway. — 12. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, modeled after the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, is the home of museums, cultural institutions and other attractions. It was a pleasure to walk the tree-lined path from the Free Library to Philadelphia’s Museum of Art.

Rodin Museum. — 13. Rodin Museum, housing one of the largest public collections of Auguste Rodin’s works outside of Paris, including bronze casts of *The Thinker* and *The Gates of Hell.*

The Thinker sculpture. — *The Thinker* sculpture at the entrance to the Rodin Museum.

Philadelphia Museum of Art. — 14. The grand stairway at Philadelphia Museum of Art, also known as the “*Rocky Steps*“, is a popular attraction for visitors to run up the steps and take pictures at the top.

Rocky sculpture. — 15. Rocky statue created by artist A. Thomas Schomberg in 1980 as a gift of Sylvester Stallone to the City of Philadelphia.

It was fun to explore Philadelphia. More to follow next week.

Weekend Coffee Share

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #127 InLinkz below.

Postcards from Portugal: Coimbra & Porto

May 19, 2023May 17, 2023Natalie104 Comments

Today’s post is the third of three in my Postcards from Portugal series. The first post on Lisbon, Cascais & Sintra is here. The second post on Évora, Fátima & Tomar is here. As usual, when you see an image gallery, click on an image to get a better view and use the arrows to move through the gallery.

Coimbra

On Day 6, from Tomar, I headed north to Coimbra, the third-largest city in Portugal. I visited the University of Coimbra, among the oldest universities in Europe, with more than 700 years of history, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Upon arrival, I met two University of Coimbra students in their uniforms. They were fundraising for their upcoming graduation. The university campus has amazing art and architectural details in all directions. The walkway to the main courtyard has unique star-shaped tile design. I took time to look up, down, left, right and around to appreciate this incredible site.

Students in robes at the University of Coimbra

In the photo below, note the distinct tiles on the roof, the beautiful columns, statues and carvings that frame the entrance. Then there is a small black iron gate at the entrance with some garments. The tradition is that once the students receive their final marks and pass, they throw their gowns as high up on the entrance as possible. Some of the gowns get stuck there.

A mosaic of the university’s seal in front of the main gate

The University Tower in the main courtyard

The Minerva Stairs – A popular spot for graduation photography

The tour at the university is very interesting and shows beautiful art and architecture inside. Most rooms have gorgeous tiles (azulejos) on the walls, paintings on the ceilings and texture-rich furnishings.

The jewel at the University is the stunning Joanine Library with its rich baroque decor. However, no photography is allowed inside. I learned that there are small bats in the library. They eat insects and naturally preserve the books. Each night, all surfaces in the library are covered with fine leather to protect them from bat droppings.

Entrance to Joanine Library (left); St. Michael’s Chapel founded in 1290 (right)

Porto

From Coimbra I continued my journey to Porto (or Oporto), Portugal’s second largest city with a 2000-year history. The Historic Centre of Oporto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I visited the Church of St. Francis and and walked the upper part of Porto to get a fantastic view of the city, the Clerigos Tower and the Duoro River.

A palace well worth visiting is the Stock Exchange Palace, renowned for its exquisite neoclassical façade and ornate gilded Arabian Hall.

On the last afternoon in Porto I enjoyed a Douro River Cruise to view the city from a new perspective. The boat passed by the numerous port wine cellars and under the magnificent bridges crossing the Duoro river valley. I visited a Port Wine Cellar for a tasting. It was a wonderful way to end my trip.

Weekend Coffee Share

This post concludes my three-part ‘Postcards from Portugal‘ series. Thank you for following along. For more door photos, visit Dan’s #ThursdayDoors photo challenge.

I’d love for you to share what’s been happening, simple joys from your week and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #119 InLinkz below.

Doors and Gates in Charleston

March 24, 2023March 22, 2023Natalie112 Comments

As mentioned in my previous post, my sisters and I had a reunion in Charleston, South Carolina in early March. The Charleston Historic District is a photographer’s dream and anyone interested in architecture and history would enjoy wandering there. During our stay, we walked every day and admired many beautiful and historic homes and buildings.

Since I live a car-free lifestyle, I love that the Charleston Historic District is walkable and the streets are kept clean. Even though the Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) operates three routes on the Charleston peninsula and the ride is free, we chose to walk and explore at our own pace.

Today’s galleries include photos of Charleston-style houses, doors and gates in The Battery and King Street neighbourhoods. I love the house architecture and unique black iron gate designs. Click on an image in the gallery for better view and use arrows to move through the gallery.

Charleston-Style Houses

I learned about five distinguishing features of a Charleston single house: 1) A long, narrow shape 2) A wider side 3) A faux front door 4) A porch, and 5) A consistent interior layout.

The Charleston single houses have tall, narrow fronts and are typically only one room wide on the home’s street-facing side. From the side, however, they can be the width of several rooms. Although single houses appear to have a centralized front entryway, this door actually leads to a small piazza or porch.

The piazzas always appear on the side of the house with the front door which, to take best advantage of local winds, will be the south or west side. The true entryway was typically placed along the porch, so the house residents could have more privacy entering and exiting their homes.

The Charleston double house faces the street at its full length—rather than just one room’s width. Charleston double houses are less common than single houses.

The Battery

This gallery includes photos of gates at different heights. Some gates are flanked by green plants or lion statues. The gate with the lamp atop is the entrance to the historic Edmonston-Alston House circa 1825. The pink house adds privacy with green plants on two of the three archways. The double wooden doors in the last photo are solidly handsome.

King Street

This gallery includes three narrow single iron gates and three wide double gates. Two of the single gates are slightly ajar. The hanging planters with pretty flowers and the red bricks are lovely to see.

Weekend Coffee Share

I spotted this mural near Charleston City Market and thought it was perfect for today’s Weekend Coffee Share and Photographing Public Art Challenge.

Mural by David Boatwright, 2020 in Charleston

What do you think about Charleston-style houses? Did you see any door or gate you like? For more door photos, visit Dan’s #ThursdayDoors photo challenge.

Please note that there will be no linkup on March 31 as I’ll be taking a blogging break next week. I’ll return with a fresh post and resume hosting Weekend Coffee Share on April 7. Thank you.