Tag: architecture
-
Temple of Harmony
The magnificent Temple of Concordia is named for a Latin inscription that was found on a dedication marker unearthed in the vicinity of the Valley of the Temples archaeological site–i.e., a marker not associated with the temple; however spirited archaeologists took the text on the marker that said something to the effect of “dedicated to…
-
Temple Interrupted
Thought to have been built by a Elymian-Sicilian architect who was influenced by Greek colleagues, this Doric temple at Segesta was constructed between 430 and 420 BC. Scholars believe that it never had a roof put on its 36 limestone columns–perhaps the reason why it is so well-preserved. Very little is understood about for what…
-
The Details are in the Doorways of Erice
When wandering through the streets of Erice, you will come upon charming doorways and residents’ traditional, handmade linens.
-
One Monster
One of what was once over six hundred, now approximately 70, statues of monsters, fantastic characters, imaginary animals, knights, ladies, peasants, and musicians that decorated the outer walls and grounds of Villa Palagonia in Bagheria. (Photo by Experience Sicily’s Filippo Buttitta)
-
Innocent and Majestic
This scene of Original Sin, that is, Adam and Eve with the snake from the Old Testament, is one of dozens of scenes that cover the walls of the Cathedral at Monreale. The Byzantine-style mosaic designs tell Biblical stories without words; however with incredible majesty–using glass, semiprecious stones, and hundreds of gold leaf tiles. Such…
-
About 885 Years Old
King Roger II commissioned Palermo’s San Giovanni degli Eremiti (Saint John of the Hermits) in 1130. Completed in 1148, its red domes rise above a garden of citrus trees, roses, fichi d’india, and jasmine that was once flanked the city’s ancient Kemonia River. There is evidence that on its site was once a pagan building,…
-
Inlaid Lava at Palazzo Chiaramonte
This elegant window was photographed at Palazzo Chiaramonte in Palermo. Also known by the name Palazzo Steri, Palazzo Chiaramonte was built starting in 1307 by the powerful feudal family, the Chiaramontes. This window incorporates many architectural styles. The decorative design, an inlaid lava stone (AKA intarsias), is reminiscent of designs found on the exterior of…
-
San Cataldo: Keeping it Simple
Palermo’s San Cataldo church in Piazza Bellini possesses three remarkable red domes on the outside, yet on the inside, those domes illuminate an elegant, simply designed stone chapel. In contrast to its sister church La Martorana, San Cataldo, which was built around 1160, has never possessed mosaics or other such decoration.
-
Coexisting Styles
The bell tower of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio, affectionately known as “La Martorana,” rises above Palermo’s Piazza Bellini. Over the centuries this beloved church has been architecturally modified many times; however in-keeping with its native charm. It was commissioned in the 1140s by Admiral George of Antioch and originally built in the renowned Arab-Norman style. This…