Prambanan Bas-Reliefs

Ramayana Bas-Relief - Rama, Sita and Lakshmana leaving Ayodhya for exile

Exquisitely carved bas-reliefs Prambanan is a massive Hindu temple complex (also known as Rara Jonggrang complex) located 11 miles northeast of Yogyakarta in Indonesia. Built around 900 CE, this complex contains multiple temples dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses. Carved into the walls of these temples are the beautiful bas-reliefs that depict scenes narrated in … Read more

La Giralda: A harmonious blend of Moorish and Renaissance architectural styles

A view of the Seville Cathedral from Las Setas of Seville, Spain

The magnificent campanile of the Seville Cathedral When you look at the Giralda, it is hard to imagine that it is a product of two entirely different cultures. The lower half is part of the minaret built in the 13th century by the Almohads – a Moorish dynasty originated from North Africa. The upper half … Read more

Sacristía Mayor: The Main Sacristy of the Seville Cathedral

Custodia de Arfe in the Sacristía Mayor of the Seville Cathedral

A Magnificent Building that Houses Valuable Art Treasures Attached to the south side of the Seville Cathedral, the Sacristía Mayor (Main Sacristy) is a Greek cross-shaped building crowned by a circular dome at the crossing. Surmounting the dome is a beautiful roof lantern built to provide daylight to the hall below. The work on this … Read more

Sala Capitular: The Chapter House of the Seville Cathedral

South section of the dome of the Chapter House attached to the Seville Cathedral, Andalusia, Spain

A Magnificent Building Unique in Design and Rich in Decoration No visit to the Seville Cathedral is complete without seeing to the incredibly beautiful Sala Capitular (Chapter House), an ellipse-shaped hall attached to the southeast corner of the building. It is a highly ornate hall crowned by a magnificent dome that is elliptical in shape … Read more

Seville Cathedral – An awe-inspiring architectural marvel

Central nave of the Seville Cathedral, Spain

Discover why Seville Cathedral is one of Spain’s greatest architectural masterpieces. Built on the site of a former Almohad mosque, this UNESCO World Heritage monument combines magnificent Gothic architecture with centuries of history. Explore its spectacular interior, the magnificent Retablo Mayor—the world’s largest altarpiece—and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus and his second son, Fernando Colón, along with many other treasures in this comprehensive visitor’s guide.

Kappe Chennigaraya Temple

North facade of the Kappe Chennigaraya Temple, situated inside the Belur Chennakeshava Temple complex in Karnataka, India

Kappe Chennigaraya is a smaller temple situated in the south side of the Belur Chennakeshava Temple complex in Karnataka, India. Commissioned by Shantala Devi, the pattada rani (principal queen consort) of King Vishnuvardana, the builder of the main Chennakeshava Temple, the construction of the Kappe Chennigaraya Temple began at the same time as the main … Read more

Alhambra: Medina

Archaeological site of the Abencerrajes' Palace in the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Explore the Bustling City of the Nasrids Located on the eastern end of the Alhambra was a city bustling with shops, industrial houses, public baths, mosques, and residential quarters. Known as the Medina, this city served the daily needs of the palace and the people working there. Both nobility and the common people, including artisans … Read more

Alhambra: Christian-Era Monuments

The south facade of Palacio Carlos V (Charles V Palace) in the Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Carlos V Pillar The image shows a beautifully decorated wall located next to the Puerta de la Justicia and below the artillery pieces in front of the Palacio Carlos V. You can see this on your way to the Alhambra. As you can see, the wall has three distinct levels of carvings. The bottom level … Read more

Generalife

A view of the Generalife from the Alhambra in Granada, Spain

Heavenly Gardens of the Nasrids Located on Cerro del Sol (Sun Hill), a hill adjoining the Alhambra, the Generalife is a complex consisting of beautiful gardens, orchards, and a palace used by the Nasrid kings as a leisure residence, especially during summer. Derived from the Arabic word Jannat al-‘Arīf, Generalife means an architect’s garden. Inspired … Read more

Alhambra: Gardens of the Partal

Torre de las Damas (Tower of the Ladies), a building with an open portico located in the Partal Gardens, Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Located between the Medina (i.e., city) and the Nasrid Palaces, the area covered by the present Gardens of the Partal was mostly residential during the Nasrid era. Because of the convenient location, the people who worked in the palaces lived in this area. Medina, which had shops, baths, and mosques, was nearby and met their daily … Read more

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