Sunday, December 31, 2017

Jewish Town Hall

Clock with Hebrew numerals (letters), Židovská radnice (Jewish Town Hall), Josefov, Prague

Clock with Hebrew numerals (letters)
Židovská radnice (Jewish Town Hall), Josefov
Prague, September 2017

“The Jewish Town Hall (Czech: Židovská radnice) in Josefov, Prague, was constructed adjacent to the Old New Synagogue on the corner of Maiselova and Červená Ulice in 1586 in Renaissance style under the sponsorship of Mayor Mordechai Maisel. It acquired its Rococo facade in the 18th century. The building was the main meeting house of the local Jewish community but is currently closed to the public. It is perhaps best known for its two clocks, one on a tower with Roman numeral markings, the other, lower, has Hebrew numerals, which are the same as letters in the Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew numerals begin with aleph and continue counterclockwise around the clock dial.” (Jewish Town Hall, Wikipedia)


Post 3,653 of 3,653 - This blog will end on December 31st


This is the last post of this blog. For the best part of ten years we have posted our daily photos, now it is time to stop, surely with some regrets. We wish to thank our faithful readers, they could always follow us on a similar Instagram account:


A few new posts will probably find their way to these pages now and then.

Saturday, December 30, 2017

“Asleep”

Asleep by Fat Heat, Dunajská ulica, Staré Mesto, Bratislava

“Asleep” by Fat Heat, 2016
Dunajská ulica, Staré Mesto
Bratislava, September 2017

Friday, December 29, 2017

Terrazza Mascagni

Terrazza Mascagni, Viale Italia, Livorno

Terrazza Mascagni
Viale Italia
Livorno, October 2015

“The Terrazza Mascagni is an elegant promenade by the sea with a wonderful view over the Tyrrhenian sea and the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. It was built in the 1920's and named Terrazza Ciano after Costanzo Ciano, the local fascist leader and father of Galeazzo Ciano, who in 1930 married Mussolini's daughter Edda. After the war the name was aptly changed to honor Pietro Mascagni, the opera composer, but the old name stuck until the 1960's. As you can see this beautiful stretch of ‘lungomare’ (seafront) leads you to the rebuilt Gazebo and to the recently reopened Grand Hotel Palazzo. The Bagni Pancaldi Acquaviva, on the right in this photo, is a beach resort already famous in 19th century.” (Terrazza Mascagni, Livorno Daily Photo)

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Lexington Street

Around the London Fashion Week 2016, Lexington Street, Soho, London

Around the London Fashion Week 2016
Lexington Street, Soho
London, September 2016

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Millennium Tower

Millennium Tower by Gustav Peichl, Boris Podrecca and Rudolf F. Weber, Handelskai, Brigittenau, Vienna

Millennium Tower by Gustav Peichl, Boris Podrecca and Rudolf F. Weber, 1999
Handelskai, Brigittenau
Vienna, September 2017

“The Millennium Tower is the second tallest building and fourth tallest structure in Austria at 171 metres (561 feet). The tower is located at Handelskai 94-96 in the Brigittenau 20th district in Vienna, Austria. An antenna mounted on top of the tower brings the architectural height to 202 metres (663 feet) but does not count to its overall height. Millennium Tower was designed by the architects Gustav Peichl, Boris Podrecca and Rudolf Weber. The tower has 51 floors, serves both commercial and residential purposes, and is the focal point of a complex known as ‘Millennium City’. It was completed in 1999 for the coming of the third millennium. The office tower has a gross floor area of 47,200 m2 (508,000 sq ft), of which 38,500 m2 (414,000 sq ft)is used as office space. The remaining area is to 2 levels are generally available and is used for a shopping center (Millennium City), restaurants and a multiplex cinema (UCI). The Millennium Tower was built in an extremely short construction time: Thanks to efficient organization of all work steps and modern building techniques have created an average of 2 ½ floors a week and the building completed in 1999.” (Millennium Tower, Wikipedia)

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Vintage Car

Vintage car outside Palazzo Budini Gattai, Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Florence

Vintage car outside Palazzo Budini Gattai
Piazza della Santissima Annunziata
Florence, October 2015

Monday, December 25, 2017

Gyula Andrássy

Equestrian statue of Gyula Andrassy by György Zala, Hungarian Parliament Building, Kossuth Lajos ter, Budapest

Equestrian statue of Gyula Andrassy by György Zala
Hungarian Parliament Building
Kossuth Lajos ter
Budapest, September 2017

“A mounted statue of Count Gyula Andrássy, Hungary’s Prime Minister between 1867 and 1871, has been finally completed and inaugurated in front of the Hungarian Parliament in Budapest’s Kossuth Square. The original 6.5-metre high bronze equestrian statue statue, the work of renowned Hungarian sculptor György Zala, was installed on the square in 1906 but it was demolished due to ideological reasons by the Communist authorities after 1945. The old-new monument was inaugurated by House Speaker László Kövér on Tuesday afternoon. ‘The reconstructed Andrássy statue will return to its original place in its former glory’, he said, noting that its inauguration completes the process of restoring the pre-1944 look of the Square. Andrássy saw politics as ‘the art of seizable opportunities’, Kövér said, adding that the emotion that motivated his policies was patriotism. Budapest Mayor István Tarlós said the inauguration of the statue ‘gives Andrássy the recognition he deserves.’” (Monument of Gyula Andrássy Inaugurated, Hungary Today)

Sunday, December 24, 2017

L'Estel ferit

L'Estel ferit (The Wounded Shooting Star) by Rebecca Horn, Platja de Sant Miquel, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, Barcelona

“L'Estel ferit” (The Wounded Shooting Star) by Rebecca Horn, 1992
Platja de Sant Miquel, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta
Barcelona, March 2017

“The sculpture L'Estel Ferit (The Wounded Shooting Star) consists of four twisted cubes, stacked seemingly at random. Most people refer to this popular landmark as ‘the cubes’, and it is a clear reflection of Barcelona's penchant for ground-breaking art during the Olympic period. However, its symbolism is inextricably linked to the past of the Barceloneta district. The sculpture L'Estel Ferit pays tribute to Barcelona's fishing district, the Barceloneta, and has become one of its iconic landmarks. The German artist Rebecca Horn heralded a new phase in the decoration of the city's streets and squares. It was 1992, and the city's most neglected neighbourhoods were in need of a clean up, while they opened up to the sea and adorned themselves with sculptures that were often innovative. In this case, Horn sought to immortalise the legendary seafront bars and restaurants, or xiringuitos, which just a few years before had dotted the Barceloneta coastline. The xiringuitos were shacks that had fallen into disrepair but still retained their essential charm. However, by the time the pre-Olympic city was being refurbished they had seen better days and were removed. Some people say that the cubes represent the 30m2 apartments, known locally as quarts de pis, which were built at the end of the 19th century. Whatever the interpretation, there's no denying that the artist created an impressive 10-metre-high sculpture, comprising four steel blocks that rise up from a concrete base. Each block, with its glass windows, comprises an individual module. Stacked one on top of another, these cubes look like they're performing a fragile dance and are held up by chance. Locals and visitors alike don't seem to fear the apparent instability of the structure, which is silhouetted against the background of the sea.” (L'Estel ferit, Turisme de Barcelona)

Saturday, December 23, 2017

San Pietro alle Scale

San Pietro alle Scale, Via San Pietro, Siena

San Pietro alle Scale
Via San Pietro
Siena, April 2017

San Pietro alle Scale, also known as San Pietro in Castelvecchio is a Roman Catholic parish church located on via San Pietro, Terzo of Città, in Siena, region of Tuscany, Italy. Initially built in the 12th-century, this parish church was completely rebuilt in a Baroque style in the 17th century; the brick facade has a portal with a depiction of Glory of St Peter. The belltower dates to 1699, and the facade to 1706. Amid the interior’s elaborate stucco decoration, are the remains of a 14th-century polyptych by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, depicting a Madonna with Child and Saints; St Lucia and the Archangel Gabriel; The Redeemer blessing; Sts Peter and Paul; and a Female Saint and St Michael Archangel. The church also contains a Rest on the Flight to Egypt (1621) by Rutilio Manetti. An altar on the right has a canvas depicting Madonna in Glory by Francesco Rustici, and a canvas of St Roch and St Catherine of Siena by Ventura Salimbeni. This is one of two churches in Siena dedicated to St Peter, the other is the church of San Pietro alla Magione.” (San Pietro alle Scale, Wikipedia)

Friday, December 22, 2017

The Horse

The horse by David Černý, Pasáž Lucerna, Palác Lucerna, Štěpánská, Nové Město, Prague

The horse by David Černý, 2000
Pasáž Lucerna (Passage Lucerna), Palác Lucerna (Lucerna Palace)
Štěpánská / Vodičkova, Nové Město
Prague, September 2017

“A perfect starting point is the middle of Wenceslas Square, inside Lucerna Pasaz on Vodickova. Here, you will find 'Horse' – a dark, bastardised version of the imposing kingly statue situated in the square behind you. Hanging, Damocles-like, from a lime-tiled dome ceiling sits Wenceslas, astride his now dead, upside-down steed. Though Cerny never comments publicly on his work, the piece is seen to be a damning attack on current Czech President, Václav Klaus – a frequent subject for Cerny derision.” (A David Cerny sculpture walk in Prague, The Guardian)

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Bastille Day Eve


13 juillet (Bastille Day Eve)
Mairie du 3e arrondissement
Rue Eugène Spuller
Quartier des Enfants-Rouges, 3rd arrondissement
Paris, July 2009

“Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries/lands to the French National Day, which is celebrated on the 14th of July each year. In France, it is formally called la Fête nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly and legally le 14 juillet (the 14th of July). The French National Day commemorates the first anniversary of Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution, as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790. Celebrations are held throughout France. The oldest and largest regular military parade in Europe is held on the morning of 14 July, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic, along with other French officials and foreign guests.” (Bastille Day, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Torre di Arnolfo

The tower of Palazzo Vecchio seen from Piazza Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, Florence

The tower of Palazzo Vecchio
Piazza della Signoria
Seen from Piazza Santa Croce
Florence, April 2017

“The solid, massive building is enhanced by the simple tower with its clock. Giovanni Villani wrote that Arnolfo di Cambio incorporated the ancient tower of the Foraboschi family (the tower then known as ‘La Vacca’ or ‘The Cow’) into the new tower's facade as its substructure; this is why the rectangular tower (height 94 m) is not directly centered in the building. This tower contains two small cells, that, at different times, imprisoned Cosimo de' Medici (the Elder) (1435) and Girolamo Savonarola (1498). The tower is named after its designer Torre d'Arnolfo. The tower's large, one-handed clock was originally constructed in 1353 by the Florentine Nicolò Bernardo, but was replaced in 1667 with a replica made by Georg Lederle from the German town of Augsburg (Italians refer to him as Giorgio Lederle of Augusta) and installed by Vincenzo Viviani.” (Palazzo Vecchio, Wikipedia)

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Primate's Square

Primaciálne námestie (Primate's Square), Staré Mesto (Old Town), Bratislava

Primaciálne námestie (Primate's Square)
Staré Mesto (Old Town)
Bratislava, September 2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

El Peix

“Peix d'Or” (Golden Fish) by Frank Gehry, Passeig Marítim, Barceloneta, Barcelona

“Peix d'Or” (Golden Fish) by Frank Gehry, 1992
Passeig Marítim, Barceloneta
Barcelona, March 2017

“The 52m long golden fish sculpture El Peix is one of the best known and most striking landmarks on Barcelona’s seafront. It’s gold coloured stainless steel surface shines under the Mediterranean sun and changes appearance depending on the angle of the sun and the current weather conditions. The fish statue was built for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The gold coloured steel structure serves as a canopy for the casino and restaurants which link the luxurious Hotel Arts to the seafront.” (Frank Gehry’s Golden Fish Sculpture, Barcelona Lowdown)

Sunday, December 17, 2017

The Kiss

Banner outside the Pinacoteca di Brera inspired by “Il bacio” (The Kiss) by Francesco Hayez, Via Brera, Milano

Banner outside the Pinacoteca di Brera inspired by
“Il bacio” (The Kiss) by Francesco Hayez, 1859
Via Brera
Milano, November 2016

Il bacio (The Kiss) is an 1859 painting by the Italian artist Francesco Hayez. It is possibly his best known work. This painting conveys the main features of Italian Romanticism and has come to represent the spirit of the Risorgimento. It was commissioned by Alfonso Maria Visconti di Saliceto, who donated to the Pinacoteca di Brera after his death. The painting represents a couple from the Middle Ages, embracing while they kiss each other. It is among the most passionate and intense representations of a kiss in the history of Western art. The girl leans backwards, while the man bends his left leg so as to support her, simultaneously placing a foot on the step next to him as though poised to go at any moment. The couple, though at the center of the painting, are not recognizable, as Hayez wanted the action of the kissing to be at the center of the composition. In the left part of the canvas shadowy forms lurk in the corner to give an impression of conspiracy and danger.” (The Kiss, Wikipedia)

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Flying Dutchman’s Lighthouse

Leuchtturm (Lighthouse), Donauinsel (Danube Island), Vienna

Leuchtturm (Lighthouse), (Bregenz, 1989) 1997
Donauinsel (Danube Island)
Vienna, September 2017

“This lighthouse never operated on the Viennese Donauinsel. In fact, this is not a lighthouse, but only a part of the Wagner opera, The Flying Dutchman’s scenery. It was constructed at the Lake Constance stage at Bregenz in 1989, later transported to the Technical Museum in Vienna. Finally it found its place on the long Donauinsel in 1997. It soon became part of the city landscape, a favourite theme for many photographers, despite it is functioning as a weather station and a city webcam.” (Lighthouses of the Danube, Donau Insel)

Friday, December 15, 2017

Vincent & Theo van Gogh

Vincent and Theo van Gogh's graves, Cimetière d'Auvers sur Oise, Chemin des Vallées, Auvers-sur-Oise, France

Vincent and Theo van Gogh's graves
Cimetière d'Auvers sur Oise
Chemin des Vallées
Auvers-sur-Oise, July 2005

“Dr. Paul Gachet lived in Auvers-sur-Oise. He was acquainted with the avant-garde artists of the time. Through this connection, Vincent van Gogh moved to Auvers to be treated by him, though he considered the doctor to be in a worse state than himself. Gachet befriended Van Gogh and was the subject of two portraits, one of which, Portrait of Dr. Gachet, was sold at auction for over $80m (£48m) in 1990. Van Gogh died by a gunshot to the chest. The room on the upper floor of the Auberge Ravoux where he died has been preserved, although no furniture remains. Auvers-sur-Oise is the final resting place of both Vincent and his brother Theo van Gogh, who died six months later.” (Auvers-sur-Oise, Wikipedia)

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Gardens of Palazzo Corsini al Prato

Palazzo Corsini al Prato by Bernardo Buontalenti, Via il Prato, Florence

Gardens of Palazzo Corsini al Prato
Via il Prato
Florence, April 2017

“Adjoining the palazzo designed and begun by Bernardo Buontalenti in the late 16th century for Alessandro Acciaioli, the garden was completed on a plan by Gherardo Silvani in the following century. Originally conceived to apportion greater space to the experimental cultivations of Acciaioli, a great lover of botany, it was transformed into an Italian garden when it became property of Filippo di Lorenzo Corsini in 1621. Still today, the garden is divided into two parts by a lane lined by a series of statues on bases that gradually decrease in height, so as to give the perspective view an effect of greater depth. The regular shaped beds are made up of box hedges and decorated with potted citrus trees. At the end of the 16th century, Agostino Del Riccio reported the presence of one of the first examples of ‘bamia’ or arboreal althaea (Hybiscus syriacus). In the early 19th century, Antonietta Waldstatten Corsini transformed part of the English garden by realising a small hill, a lake, and several small woods traversed by winding paths. In addition to the Italian garden flower-beds, there are two lemon-houses for sheltering the potted citrus trees and a ‘carro matto’, a wooden instrument for raising and transporting vases. The garden also has a lawn with century-old linden trees and a vegetable garden-orchard, which is one of the few testimonies of agricultural areas inside the city.” (Palazzo Corsini al Prato Garden, Scientific Itineraries in Tuscany)

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Széchenyi lánchíd (Széchenyi Chain Bridge) by William Tierney Clark, seen from the Budavári Palota (Buda Castle), Budapest

Széchenyi lánchíd (Széchenyi Chain Bridge) by William Tierney Clark, 1849
Seen from the Budavári Palota (Buda Castle)
Budapest, September 2017

“The Széchenyi Chain Bridge (Széchenyi lánchíd) is a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clark and built by the Scottish engineer Adam Clark, it was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Hungary. It was opened in 1849. It is anchored on the Pest side of the river to Széchenyi (formerly Roosevelt) Square, adjacent to the Gresham Palace and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and on the Buda side to Adam Clark Square, near the Zero Kilometre Stone and the lower end of the Castle Hill Funicular, leading to Buda Castle.” (Chain Bridge, Wikipedia)

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The Dome

Millennium Dome by Richard Rogers, Millennium Way, North Greenwich, London

Millennium Dome by Richard Rogers, 1999
Millennium Way, North Greenwich
London, September 2014

“The Millennium Dome, also referred to simply as The Dome, is the original name of a large dome-shaped building, originally used to house the Millennium Experience, a major exhibition celebrating the beginning of the third millennium of the Common Era. Located on the Greenwich Peninsula in South East London, England, the exhibition was open to the public from 1 January to 31 December 2000. The project and exhibition was the subject of considerable political controversy as it failed to attract the number of visitors anticipated, with recurring financial problems. All of the original exhibition and associated complex has since been demolished. The dome still exists, however, and it is now a key exterior feature of The O2. The Prime Meridian passes the western edge of the Dome and the nearest London Underground station is North Greenwich on the Jubilee line.” (Millennium Dome, Wikipedia)

Monday, December 11, 2017

Rearing Horse

Grande Cavallo Impennato” (Rearing Horse) by Aligi Sassu, Via Brera, Milano,

“Grande Cavallo Impennato” (Rearing Horse) by Aligi Sassu, 1969
Via Brera
Milano, November 2016

“Located in Via Brera in the very center of Milan, in front of the Accademia di Brera and its Pinacoteca as well as the house where the artist lived for a long time, this large work manifests the component of myth which Sassu manages to bestow on sculpture when he moves out of the field of ceramics or small sculptures, which are characterized by more refined, precious effects and a lyrical tone. Two of the five versions of this work are in the garden of the Confcommercio building in Milan and in Piazza della Repubblica in the Republic of San Marino.” (Large Rearing Horse, Aligi Sassu)

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Palác Adria

Palác Adria (Adria Palace) by Josef Zasche and Pavel Janák, Jungmannova / Národní, Nové Město, Prague

Palác Adria (Adria Palace) by Josef Zasche and Pavel Janák, 1926
Jungmannova / Národní, Nové Město
Prague, September 2017

“This Rondocubist palace with rich sculptural decoration was built from 1923–1924 at the corner of Národní Avenue and Jungmannova Street. The gallery is located on the building's first floor, and its exhibitions are prepared by the Association of Art Critics and Theorists (Sdružení výtvarných kritiků a teoretiků). In addition to exhibitions, it also holds lectures, discussions and other events relating to contemporary art.” (Critics’ Gallery – Adria Palace, Prague.eu)

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Red Car & Flowers

Shutter by Joel Arroyo, Vila de Gràcia, Barcelona

Shutter by Joel Arroyo (@lupanarlunar)
Vila de Gràcia
Barcelona, March 2017

Friday, December 8, 2017

Piazzale degli Uffizi


Piazzale degli Uffizi
Florence, April 2017

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Schöner Náci

Schöner Náci (Lamár Ignác) by Juraj Meliš, Café Mayer, Hlavné námestie, Staré Mesto, Bratislava

Schöner Náci (Lamár Ignác) by Juraj Meliš, 1997
Café Mayer, Hlavné námestie
Staré Mesto
Bratislava, September 2017

“Schöner Náci or Schöne Náci (real name Ignác Lamár, Hungarian: Lamár Ignác) was a renowned Bratislava character (German: Stadtoriginal) of the mid-20th century. He was born in Petržalka on 11 August 1897 (then Hungary), and died of tuberculosis in Lehnice on October 23, 1967 (then Czechoslovakia). He was originally buried in Lehnice, but his remains were reburied in Bratislava's Ondrejský cemetery on September 2, 2007. Schöner Náci was the son of a shoemaker and grandson of a famous clown, also Ignác Lamár, and was inspired by the latter's example to bring happiness to the streets of the city. He walked around the Old Town and in particular the stretch from Michael's Gate to the river, in top hat and tails, greeting women with the words, ‘I kiss your hand’ in German, Hungarian and Slovak. He received free food from several of the city’s cafes, and supported himself with occasional cleaning work.” (Schöner Náci, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Priapus

Herma of Priapus, by Alexander Stoddart, Vincent Square, Pimlico, London

Herma of “Priapus” by Alexander Stoddart, 2007
Vincent Square, Pimlico
London, September 2014

“Stoddart's practice of encoding classical references in his sculpture is shown in the herm of Priapus that was installed in Vincent Square, London, last summer. Priapus, the Greek fertility god, is shown in rustic mode, ‘as though he was appearing on Gardeners' Question Time’. One hand carries a pair of shears, in acknowledgement of the nearby Royal Horticultural Society. There is a learned inscription about shepherds, the gist of which is that the modern world has gone to pot. Further evidence comes from a drawer in Stoddart's study. From it he produces a phallus. This should have been attached to the herm, as it would have been in the Classical era, but Stoddart, anticipating objections by the planners, did not think he could get away with it. ‘Girls go around half-naked, there is lewdness and innuendo everywhere, children dress like prostitutes to go to school,’ he fulminates, ‘but you can't show Priapus with a phallus.’” (Alexander Stoddart: talking statues, The Telegraph)

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Courtyard of Palazzo Brera


Courtyard of Palazzo Brera by Giuseppe Piermarini, 1780
Via Brera
Milan, November 2016

“Palazzo Brera or Palazzo di Brera is a monumental palace in Milan, in Lombardy in northern Italy. It was a Jesuit college for two hundred years. It now houses several cultural institutions including the Accademia di Brera, the art academy of the city, and its gallery, the Pinacoteca di Brera; the Orto Botanico di Brera, a botanical garden; an observatory, the Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera; the Istituto Lombardo Accademia di Scienze e Lettere, a learned society; and an important library, the Biblioteca di Brera.” (Palazzo Brera, Wikipedia)

Monday, December 4, 2017

Karlskirche

Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church), Kreuzherrengasse, Vienna

Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church), 1737
Kreuzherrengasse
Vienna, September 2017

Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church) is a baroque church located on the south side of Karlsplatz in Vienna, Austria. Widely considered the most outstanding baroque church in Vienna, as well as one of the city's greatest buildings, Karlskirche is dedicated to Saint Charles Borromeo, one of the great counter-reformers of the sixteenth century. Located on the edge of the Innere Stadt, approximately 200 meters outside the Ringstraße, Karlskirche contains a dome in the form of an elongated ellipsoid. Since Karlsplatz was restored as an ensemble in the late 1980s, Karlskirche has garnered fame due to its dome and its two flanking columns of bas-reliefs, as well as its role as an architectural counterweight to the buildings of the Musikverein and of the Vienna University of Technology. The church is cared for by a religious order, the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, and has long been the parish church as well as the seat of the Catholic student ministry of the Vienna University of Technology. Next to the Church was the Spitaler Gottesacker. Antonio Vivaldi was buried there.” (Karlskirche, Wikipedia)

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Mercat del Born

Mercat del Born by Antoni Rovira i Trias, La Ribera, Ciutat Vella, Barcelona

Mercat del Born by Antoni Rovira i Trias, 1878
La Ribera, Ciutat Vella
Barcelona, March 2017

Mercat del Born is a former public market and one of the most important buildings in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain constructed with iron. Located in the lower and eastern side of the la Ribera neighborhood, it is the largest covered square in all of Europe and marked the start of Modernisme in Catalan architecture. The market is rectangular, with two large domed, intersecting buildings, and 4 smaller naves. The structure is supported on cast iron columns with a flat roof covered in glazed tile.” (Mercat del Born, Wikipedia)

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Torre d'Arte

Torre d'Arte (Tower of Art), Via dello Studio, Florence

Torre d'Arte (Tower of Art)
Via dello Studio
Florence, April 2017

Friday, December 1, 2017

Matthias Fountain

Mátyás kútja (Matthias Fountain) by Stróbl Alojs, Budavári Palota (Buda Castle), Budapest

Mátyás kútja (Matthias Fountain) by Stróbl Alojs, 1904
Budavári Palota (Buda Castle)
Budapest, September 2017

“Matthias Fountain (Mátyás kútja) is a monumental fountain group in the western forecourt of Buda Castle, Budapest. Alajos Stróbl’s Neo-Baroque masterpiece is one of the most frequently photographed landmark in the Hungarian capital. It is sometimes called the ‘Trevi Fountain of Budapest’. The group depicts a hunting party led by Matthias Corvinus, the king of Hungary. The bronze figures are standing on heaps of rocks against the backdrop of the northern facade of the former Castle Church. Water is running down between the cracks of the boulders. The whole theatrical arrangement bears resemblance to the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome although it is on a much smaller scale.” (Matthias Fountain, Wikipedia)

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Basilica of San Domenico

Basilica of San Domenico, with the Siena Cathedral in background, seen from Viale XXV Aprile, Siena

Basilica of San Domenico with the Siena Cathedral in background
Seen from Viale XXV Aprile
Siena, April 2017

“The Basilica of San Domenico, also known as Basilica Cateriniana, is a basilica church in Siena, Tuscany, Italy, one of the most important in the city. The church was begun in 1226-1265, but was enlarged in the 14th century resulting in the Gothic appearance it has now. However, aspects of the Gothic structure were subsequently destroyed by fires in 1443, 1456 and 1531, and further damage later resulted from military occupation (1548-1552). It is a large edifice built, like many contemporary edifices of the mendicant orders, in bricks, with a lofty bell tower on the left (this was reduced in height after an earthquake in 1798). The interior is on the Egyptian cross plan with a huge nave covered by trusses and with a transept featuring high chapels. The church contains several relics of St. Catherine of Siena, whose family house is nearby.” (Basilica of San Domenico, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The She-wolf of Siena

The She-wolf of Siena, Piazza di Postierla, Siena

The She-wolf of Siena
Piazza di Postierla
Siena, April 2017

“The origins of Siena are uncertain, but the city long promoted the belief that it was founded by Senius and Ascius, the sons of Remus (the twin brother of Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome), hence the image of the Lupa Senese (the she-wolf suckling two infants), which one sees throughout the town. ​Following the murder of their father, Senius (who gave his name to the city) and his brother Ascius were forced to flee Rome on horseback, riding respectively on a black horse and a white horse, hence the two colours of the Balzana, the city’s coat of arms.” (The Wolf of Siena, Walking Tours of Florence & Siena )

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Žižkov Television Tower

Žižkov Television Tower by Václav Aulický, Mahlerovy sady, Prague

Žižkov Television Tower by Václav Aulický, 1992
Mahlerovy sady
Prague, September 2017

“The Žižkov Television Tower (Žižkovský vysílač) is a unique transmitter tower built in Prague between 1985 and 1992. Designed by the architect Václav Aulický and the structural engineer Jiří Kozák, it stands high above the city's traditional skyline from its position on top of a hill in the district of Žižkov, from which it takes its name. The tower is an example of high-tech architecture. The structure of the tower is unconventional, based on a triangle whose corners are growing up in steel columns, consisting of three tubes with a double steel wall, filled with concrete. They support nine 'pods' and three decks for transmitting equipment. One of the three pillars extends considerably higher than the others, and this provides both the necessary height for some antennas, along with the structure's rocket and gantry appearance. In its time it was a unique technology, which authors have patented. The tower stands 216 metres (709 feet) high, altitude of the observatory is 93 m, the hotel room altitude is 70 m, restaurants altitude is 66 m, with a capacity of 180 people. Three elevators transport passengers at a speed of 4 m/s. Three of the pods, positioned directly beneath the decks at the top of the tower, are used for equipment related to the tower's primary function and are inaccessible to the public. The remaining six pods are open to visitors, providing a panoramic view of Prague and the surrounding area. The lower three, approximately half-way up the length of the pillars at 63 metres (207 feet), house a recently refurbished restaurant and café bar.” (Žižkov Television Tower, Wikipedia)

Monday, November 27, 2017

Greek Warrior

Equestrian statue by Duret and Bosio, Cirque d'hiver (Winter Circus), Paris

Greek warrior by Astyanax-Scévola Bosio, 1852
Cirque d'hiver (Winter Circus)
Rue Amelot
Quartier de la Folie-Méricourt, 11th arrondissement
Paris, July 2012

“Two equestrian statues framed the entrance: a seductive Amazon by James Pradier on the left (which is said to have been modeled after the famous equestrienne, Antoinette Lejars, and was the second version of a statue whose first version adorned the façade of the Cirque des Champs-Elysées), and a Greek warrior by Duret and Bosio, on the right. Frieze and statues are still in evidence today, but the Victory holding a lantern, which originally topped the building, has long disappeared.” (Cirque d'Hiver, Circopedia)

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Turret on a Corner

Turret on a corner, Via Ventisette Aprile, Via Santa Reparata, Florence

Turret on a corner
Via Ventisette Aprile / Via Santa Reparata
Florence, May 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Slovak National Theater

Slovenské národné divadlo, Slovak National Theater, Hviezdoslavovo námestie, Staré Mesto, Bratislava

Slovenské národné divadlo (Slovak National Theater)
Ganymédova fontána (Ganymede's Fountain) by Viktor Oskar Tilgner, 1888
Hviezdoslavovo námestie, Staré Mesto
Bratislava, September 2017

Friday, November 24, 2017

Paragliding in Barceloneta

Paragliding in Barceloneta, Barcelona

Paragliding in Barceloneta
Barcelona, March 2017

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Giardino delle Varesine

Giardino delle Varesine, Via Joe Colombo, Milano

Giardino delle Varesine (Varesine Garden)
Via Joe Colombo
Milano, November 2016

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Fat House

Fat House by Erwin Wurm, Upper Belvedere, Vienna

“Fat House” by Erwin Wurm, 2003
Upper Belvedere
Vienna, September 2017

“An ‘obese house’ by Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm has been installed on the lawn outside an 18th-century palace in Vienna. Wurm first created the Fat House in 2003, as a commentary on middle-class consumer culture. It is now on show outside the Upper Belvedere, one of Vienna's most important examples of baroque architecture. The seven-metre-high sculpture is similar in form to a conventional suburban house, with a pitched tile-clad roof, a central door and windows either side. But its walls appear to have swollen out, so they look more like fatty flesh than an architectural structure. These bulging surfaces were created using polystyrene, which wraps a metal framework. Wurm, 63, is one of Austria's best-known contemporary artists. Best known for works like his One Minute Sculptures, which featured in a Red Hot Chili Peppers music video, he was this year selected as one of the curators of Austria's national pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale.” (Erwin Wurm's Fat House installed outside baroque palace in Vienna, Dezeen)

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Duke of Devonshire

London

Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire by Herbert Hampton, 1910
Junction of Horse Guards Avenue and Whitehall
London, September 2014

“The statue of the Duke of Devonshire is a Grade II-listed outdoor bronze sculpture of Spencer Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, the leader of three British political parties between 1875 and 1903, and is located at the entrance to Horse Guards Avenue, Whitehall, London, England. A work of the sculptor Herbert Hampton, it was unveiled in 1911. The statue is around 4 metres high and rests on a plinth around 5 metres high. The inscription on the plinth gives the Duke's name, title, honours (KG for Knight of the Garter; he is depicted wearing his Garter robes) and year of birth and death. A committee headed by the Marquess of Lansdowne secured permission for the statue's location and the sculptor's design was approved by Edward VII in 1909 and completed the following year. The Marquess of Lansdowne unveiled the statue on 11 February 1911.” (Statue of the Duke of Devonshire, Whitehall, Wikipedia)


Monday, November 20, 2017

Street Musicians

Street musicians, Piazza della Repubblica, Florence

Street musicians
Piazza della Repubblica
Florence, April 2017

Sunday, November 19, 2017

World Judo Championships


2017 World Judo Championships statue by Fodor-Lengyel Zoltán, 2017
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)
Széchenyi István tér
Budapest, September 2017

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Ramon Berenguer III

Equestrian statue of Ramon Berenguer III by Josep Llimona i Bruguera, restored and cast in bronze by Frederic Marès, plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran, Barcelona

Equestrian statue of Ramon Berenguer III by Josep Llimona i Bruguera, 1888
Restored and cast in bronze by Frederic Marès, 1950
Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran
Barcelona, March 2017

“This life size bronze equestrian statue of Ramon Berenguer III was sculpted by Frederic Marès and inaugerated in 1950. Located in Plaça Ramon Berenguer el Gran, the monument is a replica of an earlier statue which was created by Josep Llimona for the Barcelona Universal Exposition of 1888. The Count, who ruled Barcelona from 1097 to 1131, is portrayed in regal pose riding his horse Danc. The ancient Roman walls of Barcelona and the medieval Palau Reial make a perefect backdrop.” (Monument to Ramon Berenguer the Great, Barcelona Lowdown)

Friday, November 17, 2017

Tower of the Hours

Torre delle Ore (Tower of the Hours), Via Fillungo, Lucca

Torre delle Ore (Tower of the Hours)
Via Fillungo
Lucca, October 2017

“The Torre delle Ore or Torre dell'Orologio is a clock-tower or turret clock located on Via Fillungo in central Lucca, region of Tuscany, Italy. Medieval Lucca, like many medieval cities in Italy abounded with private towers, built for protection, exemplified best today by the remaining towers of San Gimignano. This tower, the tallest in Lucca, was acquired by the government in the 14th century, and in 1390, it was decided to house a clock. In Lucca, the nearby Torre Guinigi with the scenographic tree-scape at the top is more visited. It is now owned by the Comune of Lucca. The present mechanism of the clock dates to the 18th-century. It is unclear what the face of the clock and the mechanism consisted in 1390. Earlier clock towers did have hour markings. In 2015, it is possible to climb to the tower and view the mechanism. There is a legend associated with a young woman who sold her soul to the devil, but was captured by the devil trying to stop the time of the clock.” (Torre delle Ore, Wikipedia)

Thursday, November 16, 2017

V Tower

V Tower by Radan Hubička, Milevská, Prague

V Tower by Radan Hubička, 2017
Milevská
Prague, September 2017

V Tower is a skyscraper under construction in Prague, Czech Republic. It will be the highest residential building in the Czech Republic with 104 metres in height and 30 floors. An example of modern Czech architecture, the building will be divided into a pair of towers which are to be linked at two-thirds of their height, above which they will continue upwards separately. This will allow for the tower to expand in size as it rises whilst minimising its ground appropriation, leaving space for terraces around the outside of the building. The larger area towards the top of the towers is where the residential apartments will be, resulting in the highest apartments having more space than those which are slightly closer to the bottom of the towers.” (V Tower, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Polypores Fountain

Polypores Fountain by Jean-Yves Lechevallier, Rue Modigliani, Quartier de Javel, Paris

Polypores Fountain by Jean-Yves Lechevallier, 1983
Rue Modigliani
Quartier de Javel, 15th arrondissement
Paris, July 2006

“The intersection between Balard and Saint Charles streets, offers a nice cozy square facing one of the entrances of the André Citroën garden. A peculiar fountain which remember a plate or shell stacking decorates the center. A few thin water dashes seep into it. Often, a pigeon finds the top of the fountain as a nice place to perch.” (La Fontaine de la place Modigliani, Paris by the Water)

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Gate of Palmyra

Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch (Gate of Palmyra), Piazza della Signoria, Florence

Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch (Gate of Palmyra)
Piazza della Signoria
Florence, April 2017

“At the centre of Palmyra is a spectacular colonnaded street. This thoroughfare interconnects with smaller side streets of similar style, linking together the city’s temples and major public buildings. At the middle of it there was Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch, or ‘gate of Palmyra’ as it is known by the Syrian people. This Roman archway was one of the most beautiful of the many notable monuments in the ancient city, built in the third century CE by Septimius Severus. In the late summer of 2015, the arch, together with a number of other important structures on the site, was reduced to rubble by extremists who had occupied the ancient city since the spring. The Institute for Digital Archaeology was, at that time, in the early stages of a documentation and cultural heritage protection project in collaboration with the people of the region. Plans were made to create a large scale reconstruction of one of the well-known structures from the site for public display using a combination of computer-based 3D rendering and a pioneering 3D carving technology capable of creating very accurate renditions of computer modelled objects in solid stone. The goal was to use this installation as a means of sending a message of peace and hope, of demonstrating how new technologies can contribute to the process of restoration and reconstruction, and drawing attention to the importance of helping to protect and preserve the history and heritage of peoples under threat all over the world. The arch – reconstructed thanks to Institute for Digital Archaeology in Oxford and the TorArt society in Carrara – has been on public display on London’s Trafalgar Square, New York’s City Hall Park, and at Dubai’s World Government Summit. It has become a true global symbol of the triumph of cooperation over conflict, optimism over despair, and human ingenuity over senseless destruction.” (Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch, Muse Firenze)

Monday, November 13, 2017

Bulgarian Partisans

Pamätník bulharských Partizan (Memorial of the Bulgarian Partisans) by F. David, Vajanského nábrežie, Prague

Memorial of the Bulgarian Partisans by F. David, 1949
Vajanského nábrežie
Bratislava, September 2017

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Oliver's Wharf

Oliver's Wharf by F. & H. Francis, Wapping High Street, Wapping, London

Oliver's Wharf by F. & H. Francis, 1870
Wapping High Street, Wapping
London, September 2014

“Built for George Oliver ‘in the Tudor gothic style, this wharf handled general cargo but had special facilities for tea’. Bought for redevelopment in 1972, it was the first warehouse in Wapping, and one of the first of all the old warehouses, to be converted into housing, yielding twenty-three very expensive luxury flats. It has been described as ‘the most architecturally sophisticated warehouse’ in its street ” (Oliver's Wharf, The Victorian Web)