Built in the early 12th century for the king Suryavarman II to serve as his state temple and capital city, Angkor Wat is the best-preserved temple at the site. It is the only temple in the complex to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation, originally Hindu then Buddhist. It is a wonderful example of Khmer architecture and has become a symbol of Cambodia, even appearing on its national flag. This amazing landmark is Cambodia’s most popular tourist attraction, being visited by thousands upon thousands each year.
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Villa d’Este :: Tivoli, Italy
Villa d’Este and its amazing Italian Renaissance Garden in Tivoli near Rome are a comprehensive example of Italian Renaissance culture at its most refined. Commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este upon his appointment as Governor of Tivoli, the existing villa built in the 13th century for use by the governor was entirely reconstructed to meet the cardinal’s vision of a palatial setting surrounded by an amazing terraced garden. Using nearby Villa Adriana, the palatial retreat of Emperor Hadrian, as inspiration the cardinal created an elaborate garden with a mixture of architectural elements and water features which had a strong influence on European landscape design for centuries to come. In 2001 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list as an outstanding example of Renaissance culture at its peak as well as due to the influence the gardens of Villa d’Este had throughout Europe.
[Read more…] about Villa d’Este :: Tivoli, ItalyMir Castle :: Mir, Belarus
The Mir Castle Complex in Belarus is an wonderful example of a central European castle. Construction of the castle began at the end of the 15th century and was subsequently extend and reconstructed in Renaissance styles by Duke Ilinich in the early 16th century and once more in Baroque style around 1568 when the castle passed into the hands of Mikolaj Krzysztof “the Orphan” Radziwill. The three architectural styles blend harmoniously to create an impressive monument to the history of this region. Although abandoned for nearly a century and suffering major damage from multiple sieges during the Napoleonic periods, the castle was sold to Nikolai Sviatopolk-Mirski and Nikolai’s son Miochail completed restoring the castle to its original luster near the end of the 19th century. The castle was owned by the Sviatopolk-Mirski family until 1939 when it was taken over by the Nazi occupying force and served as a ghetto for the local Jewish population.
[Read more…] about Mir Castle :: Mir, BelarusCastle Clinton National Monument :: Manhattan, New York
Castle Clinton. Wait, you mean they even have a castle? Well, no. The Clinton honored in this naming was DeWitt Clinton; mayor of New York City from 1803 to 1815 and governor of New York State from 1817 to 1822 and 1825 to 1828. In admiration of his service to the state, a sandstone fort built to protect the United States from the British in the War of 1812 was named in his honor. Actually completed in 1811, it was constructed on a man made island off the coast of Manhattan. Despite its original (and obvious purpose) Castle Clinton never saw a single battle. Well not a war based one, anyway.
[Read more…] about Castle Clinton National Monument :: Manhattan, New YorkDuomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) :: Milan, Italy
Il Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral) is an amazing sight to behold and is the world’s largest Gothic cathedral. In fact, the only cathedral of any style in the world that are larger are St Peter’s Cathedral in Rome and the Cathedral of Seville in Spain. Although construction on the building began in 1386, it wasn’t until less than a hundred years ago that the final details were completed with its last gate being inaugurated on January 6, 1965. In 1805, when Napoleon Bonaparte was about to be crowned King of Italy, he ordered the façade to be completed. Thanks to this order, within only seven years the Cathedral has its façade completed. As a form of thanks, a statue of Napoleon was placed at the top of one of the spires.
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