Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Karl Marx-Hof

Karl Marx-Hof (Karl Marx Court), Heiligenstadt, Döbling, Vienna

Karl Marx-Hof (Karl Marx Court)
Heiligenstadt, Döbling
Vienna, June 2018

“Karl-Marx-Hof (Karl Marx Court) is one of the best-known Gemeindebauten (municipal housing complexes) in Vienna, situated in Heiligenstadt, a neighbourhood of the 19th district of Vienna, Döbling. At over a kilometre in length (1,100 metres (0.68 mi)) and spanning four Straßenbahn (tram) stops, Karl-Marx-Hof is one of the longest single residential buildings in the world.” (Karl-Marx-Hof, Wikipedia)

Monday, June 29, 2020

Hell and Purgatory

Via dell'Inferno and Via del Purgatorio, Hell Street and Purgatory Street, Via del Purgatorio, Florence

Via dell'Inferno and Via del Purgatorio
(Hell Street and Purgatory Street)
Via del Purgatorio
Florence, January 2020

“Purgatory (Latin: purgatorium, via Anglo-Norman and Old French) is, according to the belief of some Christians (mostly Catholics), an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. There is disagreement among Christians whether such a state exists. Some forms of Western Christianity, particularly within Protestantism, deny its existence. Other strands of Western Christianity see purgatory as a place, perhaps filled with fire. Some concepts of Gehenna in Judaism are similar to that of purgatory.” (Purgatory, Wikipedia)

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Mermaid Statue

Mermaid Statue by Jacques Ignace Hittorff, New York

Mermaid Statue by Jacques Ignace Hittorff, 1820
Franklin Street?
New York, September 2007

“Architect and sculptor, Hittorff, created the mermaid and mermen as central characters for the Place de la Concorde fountain in Paris. The fountain underwent renovations at the beginning of the 20th century and these original sculptures, then already one hundred years old, were replaced with replicas that are still standing in the fountains to this day. ” (Centre Pompidou, Urban Archaeology)

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Allan Kardec

Grave of Allan Kardec, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris

Grave of Allan Kardec (1804-1869)
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, (Père Lachaise Cemetery)
Quartier du Père-Lachaise, 20th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Friday, June 26, 2020

Santi Quattro Coronati

Santi Quattro Coronati, Via dei Santi Quattro Coronati, Rome

Santi Quattro Coronati
Via dei Santi Quattro Coronati
Rome, September 2019

“Santi Quattro Coronati is an ancient basilica in Rome, Italy. The church dates back to the 4th (or 5th) century, and is devoted to four anonymous saints and martyrs. The complex of the basilica with its two courtyards, the fortified Cardinal Palace with the Saint Silvester Chapel, and the monastery with its cosmatesque cloister is built in a silent and green part of Rome, between the Colosseum and San Giovanni in Laterano, in an out-of-time setting.” (Santi Quattro Coronati, Wikipedia)

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Silk floss trees

Silk floss trees, Largo Doutor Passos Vella, Cascais

Silk floss trees
Largo Doutor Passos Vella
Cascais, April 2019

“Ceiba speciosa, the silk floss tree (formerly Chorisia speciosa), is a species of deciduous tree native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South America. It has several local common names, such as palo borracho (in Spanish literally ‘drunken stick’) or árbol del puente, samu'ũ (in Guarani) or paineira (in Brazilian Portuguese). In Bolivia, it is called toborochi, meaning ‘tree of refuge’ or ‘sheltering tree’. It belongs to the same family as the baobab and the kapok. Another tree of the same genus, Ceiba chodatii, is often referred to by the same common names.” (Ceiba speciosa, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Zawisza Czarny

Zawisza Czarny, Nabrzeże Pomorskie, aleja Jana Pawła II, Gdynia

“Zawisza Czarny”
Nabrzeże Pomorskie
aleja Jana Pawła II
Gdynia, September 2018

“Zawisza Czarny is the name of two Polish sailing-ships owned by the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP. Zawsisza Czarny used to be a fishing vessel. After that use it was rebuilt to become a sailing vessel. Three masts were fitted on it and the motor that was built in was an old motor from a U-boat. One of the most interesting sailing voyages is certainly its trip to Cape Horn. Remarkable are also the sailing trips during which half of the crew consisted of blind people. It is now owned by the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association, ZHP and its home harbor is Gdynia. The rig is one of a very rare kind. The three masts are rigged as a wishbone ketch. Only a few sailing vessels are using it today and it is mainly seen on smaller units.” (Zawisza Czarny, Wikipedia)

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

San Salvatore in Ognissanti

Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti, Santa Maria Novella bell tower in background, Borgo Ognissanti, Florence

Chiesa di San Salvatore in Ognissanti
(Santa Maria Novella bell tower in background)
Borgo Ognissanti
Florence, January 2020

“The chiesa di San Salvatore di Ognissanti or more simply chiesa di Ognissanti (Church of All Saints), is a Franciscan church located on the piazza of the same name in central Florence, region of Tuscany, Italy. Founded by the lay order of the Umiliati, the church was dedicated to all the saints and martyrs, known and unknown. It was completed originally during the 1250s, but almost completely rebuilt around 1627 in Baroque-style by the architect Bartolomeo Pettirossi. Soon after, a new façade (1637) was erected using designs by Matteo Nigetti, that conserved the glazed terracotta lunette over the doorway, which while resembling the work of Della Robbia, is now attributed to Benedetto Buglioni. Ognissanti was among the first examples of Baroque architecture to penetrate this Renaissance city. Its three reversed orders of pilasters enclose niches and windows with elaborate cornices. To the left of the façade is a campanile of 13th and 14th century construction.”(Ognissanti, Florence, Wikipedia)

Monday, June 22, 2020

Eleanor Roosevelt Monument

Eleanor Roosevelt Monument by Penelope Jencks, Riverside Park, 72nd Street and Riverside Drive, New York

Eleanor Roosevelt Monument by Penelope Jencks, 1996
Riverside Park
72nd Street and Riverside Drive
New York, September 2007

“The Eleanor Roosevelt Monument is a memorial located in New York City's Riverside Park, whose centerpiece is a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt, said to be the first monument dedicated to an American president's wife. Hillary Clinton (First Lady at the time) gave the keynote address at the monument's October 1996 dedication. The landscape architects Bruce Kelly and David Varnell designed the planted, circular monument, and Penelope Jencks sculpted the statue, boulder, and foot stone. The architect Michael Dwyer designed inscriptions in the surrounding granite pavement, including a quotation from Roosevelt's 1958 speech at the United Nations advocating universal human rights, and a bronze tablet, located in the planting bed, summarizing her achievements.” (Eleanor Roosevelt Monument, Wikipedia)

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Jan Paweł II

Jan Paweł II (John Paul II) by Giorgio Galletti, Kościół Wszystkich Świętych (Church of All Saints), plac Grzybowski, Warsaw

Jan Paweł II (John Paul II) by Giorgio Galletti, 1993
Kościół Wszystkich Świętych (Church of All Saints)
plac Grzybowski
Warsaw, September 2018

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Arch of Constantine

Arch of Constantine, Via di San Gregorio, Rome

Arch of Constantine
Via di San Gregorio
Rome, September 2019

“The Arch of Constantine (Arco di Costantino) is a triumphal arch in Rome dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312. Situated between the Colosseum and the Palatine Hill, the arch spans the Via triumphalis, the route taken by victorious military leaders when they entered the city in a triumphal procession. Dedicated in 315, it is the largest Roman triumphal arch, with overall dimensions of 21 m (69 ft) high, 25.9 m (85 ft) wide and 7.4 m (24 ft) deep. It has three bays, the central one being 11.5 m (38 ft) high and 6.5 m (21 ft) wide and the laterals 7.4 m (24 ft) by 3.4 m (11 ft) each. The arch is constructed of brick-faced concrete reveted in marble.” (Arch of Constantine, Wikipedia)

Friday, June 19, 2020

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Avenida da República, Cascais

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
Avenida da República
Cascais, April 2019

“The Casa das Histórias Paula Rego (House of Stories Paula Rego) is a museum in Cascais, Lisbon District, on the Portuguese Riviera, designed by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura to house some of the works of the artist Paula Rego. On the site of the town’s former sporting club, the building designed by Souto De Moura, who was personally chosen by Paula Rego, uses the region's historical architecture, particularly the nearby Palace of Sintra, in a contemporary way. It was designed to be fully in keeping with her wishes, having indicated that it should be ‘fun, lively and also a bit mischievous’. Its two pyramid-shaped towers and the red-coloured concrete are very distinctive and the previously existing mature trees of the park have been incorporated as elements in the design. The building consists of four wings, of different heights and sizes, subdivided into connecting rooms that are laid out around a central room designed to house temporary exhibitions. It has 750m2 of exhibition space, together with a 200-seat auditorium, shop and café. The museum has been described as ‘that rare project which has brought together an enlightened client, a brilliant architect and powerful subject matter’.” (Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Wikipedia)

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Ryszard Kukliński Monument

Ryszard Kukliński Monument by Czesław Dźwigaj and Krzysztof Lenartowicz, Plac Jana Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego, Kraków

Ryszard Kukliński Monument by Czesław Dźwigaj and Krzysztof Lenartowicz
Plac Jana Nowaka-Jeziorańskiego
Kraków, September 2018

“Ryszard Kukliński is a very controversial figure in Poland. A colonel of the Polish People’s Army, Kukliński began, on his own initiative, to cooperate with US intelligence services during the Cold War. Motivated by his fear of the outbreak of WWIII and the potential annihilation of his homeland in such a conflict, between 1972 and 1981 Kukliński revealed tens of thousands of secret plans drafted by the Warsaw Pact, including a planned attack against NATO allies, to the CIA. With American assistance he and his family were able to escape from Poland right before the outbreak of martial law. In the eyes of some Poles Kukliński is a hero - a brave ally of the United States in a time when the entire leadership of the Polish Army was sold to the Soviets. To others, he is a traitor - a fact reflected by the numerous times his bust in Jordan Park has been vandalised. In 2014 a Polish film about Kukliński’s life was released, entitled Jack Strong, his CIA codename. This imposing, statement-making monument in front of Galeria Krakowska and the building of the old Kraków train station is perhaps just as controversial as its subject. Designed by Czesław Dźwigaj and Krzysztof Lenartowicz, the monument consists of a series of tipping stone blocks representing the Berlin Wall, and a broken, partially rusted steel arch soaring over them. Inscriptions on the stone blocks tell Kukliński's story in the context of the political climate of the time. Critics of the monument claim it is too abstract and does not suit the surrounding environment (on the latter point we're inclined to agree), while others have embraced the modernist style and thought-provoking aspects of this artpiece. We're in the camp of those who appreciate the aesthetic, but also the monument's readiness to confront a controversial subject and even educate people about it. Kraków was actually the first city to invite Kukliński back to Poland, making him an honourary citizen in 1998.” (Ryszard Kukliński Monument, In Your Pocket)

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Santa Maria del Carmine

Santa Maria del Carmine, Piazza del Carmine, Florence

Santa Maria del Carmine
Piazza del Carmine
Florence, January 2020

“Santa Maria del Carmine is a church of the Carmelite Order, in the Oltrarno district of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. It is famous as the location of the Brancacci Chapel housing outstanding Renaissance frescoes by Masaccio and Masolino da Panicale, later finished by Filippino Lippi. The church, dedicated to the Beatæ Virginis Mariæ de monte Carmelo, was founded by a group of Carmelite friars from Pisa. Construction of the church commenced in 1268 as part of the Carmelite convent, which still exists today. Of the original edifice only some Romanesque-Gothic remains can be seen on the sides. By the 14th century, it was the seat of a number of lay fraternities. The complex was enlarged a first time in 1328 and again in 1464, when the capitular hall and the refectory added, though the church maintained the Latin Cross, one nave plan.” (Santa Maria del Carmine, Wikipedia)

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

George Washington Bridge

George Washington Bridge, Hudson River, New York

George Washington Bridge
Hudson River
New York, September 2007

“The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge spanning the Hudson River, connecting the New York City borough of Manhattan with the New Jersey borough of Fort Lee. The bridge is named after George Washington, the first president of the United States. The George Washington Bridge is the world's busiest motor vehicle bridge, carrying over 103 million vehicles in 2016. It is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a bi-state government agency that operates infrastructure in the Port of New York and New Jersey. The George Washington Bridge is also informally known as the GW Bridge, the GWB, the GW, or the George, and was known as the Fort Lee Bridge or Hudson River Bridge during construction.” (George Washington Bridge, Wikipedia)

Monday, June 15, 2020

George Enescu

Grave of George Enescu, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris

Grave of George Enescu (1881-1955)
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, (Père Lachaise Cemetery)
Quartier du Père-Lachaise, 20th arrondissement
Paris, July 2014

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Nerva

Statue of Roman Emperor Nerva, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome

Statue of Roman Emperor Nerva
Via dei Fori Imperiali
Rome, September 2019

“Nerva was Roman emperor from 96 to 98. Nerva became emperor when aged almost 66, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the rulers of the Flavian dynasty. Under Nero, he was a member of the imperial entourage and played a vital part in exposing the Pisonian conspiracy of 65. Later, as a loyalist to the Flavians, he attained consulships in 71 and 90 during the reigns of Vespasian and Domitian, respectively. On 18 September 96, Domitian was assassinated in a palace conspiracy involving members of the Praetorian Guard and several of his freedmen. On the same day, Nerva was declared emperor by the Roman Senate, although it is possible they were approving a decision made by the Praetorian Guard, as rare coins show him speaking with this group. As the new ruler of the Roman Empire, he vowed to restore liberties which had been curtailed during the autocratic government of Domitian. Nerva's brief reign was marred by financial difficulties and his inability to assert his authority over the Roman army. A revolt by the Praetorian Guard in October 97 essentially forced him to adopt an heir. After some deliberation Nerva adopted Trajan, a young and popular general, as his successor. After barely fifteen months in office, Nerva died of natural causes on 27 January 98. Upon his death he was succeeded and deified by Trajan. Although much of his life remains obscure, Nerva was considered a wise and moderate emperor by ancient historians. Nerva's greatest success was his ability to ensure a peaceful transition of power after his death by selecting Trajan as his heir, thus founding the Nerva–Antonine dynasty.” (Nerva, Wikipedia)

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Boca do Inferno

Boca do Inferno, Hell's Mouth, Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália, Cascais

Boca do Inferno (Hell's Mouth)
Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália
Cascais, April 2019

“Boca do Inferno (Portuguese for Hell's Mouth) is a chasm located in the seaside cliffs close to the Portuguese city of Cascais, in the District of Lisbon. The seawater has access to the deep bottom of the chasm and vigorously strikes its rocky walls, making it a popular tourist attraction. The cave was the first to be depicted in moving pictures, in the 1896 British film A Sea Cave Near Lisbon, which shows waves breaking at the mouth of the cave.” (Boca do Inferno, Wikipedia)

Friday, June 12, 2020

Euro facades

Facades in the hues of the Euro bank notes Marcus Geiger, Wiedner Gürtel, Vienna

Facades in the hues of the Euro bank notes by Marcus Geiger
Wiedner Gürtel
Vienna, June 2018

Thursday, June 11, 2020

San Miniato al Monte

San Miniato al Monte, Via delle Porte Sante, Florence

San Miniato al Monte
Via delle Porte Sante
Florence, December 2019

“San Miniato al Monte (St. Minias on the Mountain) is a basilica in Florence, central Italy, standing atop one of the highest points in the city. It has been described as one of the finest Romanesque structures in Tuscany and one of the most scenic churches in Italy. There is an adjoining Olivetan monastery, seen to the right of the basilica when ascending the stairs.” (San Miniato al Monte, Wikipedia)

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

NYPD horse

NYPD horse at rest, Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, New York

NYPD horse at rest
Washington Square Park
Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan
New York, September 2007

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Dom Towarzystwa Przyrodniczego

Dom Przyrodników (House of Naturalists), Archaeological Museum, Mariacka, Gdańsk

Dom Towarzystwa Przyrodniczego (House of Naturalist Society)
Muzeum Archeologicznego (Archaeological Museum)
Mariacka
Gdańsk, September 2018

Monday, June 8, 2020

Mercati di Traiano

Mercati di Traiano, Trajan's Market, Via dei Fori Imperiali, Rome

Mercati di Traiano (Trajan's Market)
Via dei Fori Imperiali
Rome, September 2019

“Trajan's Market is a large complex of ruins in the city of Rome, Italy, located on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, at the opposite end to the Colosseum. The surviving buildings and structures, built as an integral part of Trajan's Forum and nestled against the excavated flank of the Quirinal Hill, present a living model of life in the Roman capital and a glimpse at the restoration in the city, which reveals new treasures and insights about Ancient Roman architecture. Thought to be the world's oldest shopping mall, the arcades in Trajan's Market are now believed by many to be administrative offices for Emperor Trajan. The shops and apartments were built in a multi-level structure and it is still possible to visit several of the levels. Highlights include delicate marble floors and the remains of a library.” (Trajan's Market, Wikipedia)

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimarães

Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimarães, Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália, Cascais

Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimarães
Avenida Rei Humberto II de Itália
Cascais, April 2019

“The Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimarães, originally known as the Torre de São Sebastião (St Sebastian's Tower), was built in 1900 as an aristocrat’s summer residence in Cascais, Lisbon District, Portugal. It became a museum in 1931. The building follows an eclectic architectural style, while the museum includes paintings of national and international significance, furniture, porcelain, jewellery and a neo-Gothic organ. Jorge O'Neil built the Torre de São Sebastião in 1900, to the designs of Francisco Vilaça. O'Neill was a Portuguese aristocrat of distant Irish descent who had multiple business interests including Portugal's match monopoly.[1] The nearby Casa de Santa Maria was also constructed at his behest.” (Palácio dos Condes de Castro Guimarães, Wikipedia)

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Maria Konopnicka

Maria Konopnicka by Stanisław Kulon, Ogród Saski (Saxon Garden), Warsaw

Maria Konopnicka by Stanisław Kulon, 1965
Ogród Saski (Saxon Garden)
Warsaw, September 2018

“Maria Konopnicka (née Wasiłowska; 23 May 1842 – 8 October 1910) was a Polish poet, novelist, children's writer, translator, journalist, critic, and activist for women's rights and for Polish independence. She used pseudonyms, including Jan Sawa. She was one of the most important poets of Poland's Positivist period.” (Maria Konopnicka, Wikipedia)

Friday, June 5, 2020

Palazzo di Giustizia

Palazzo di Giustizia, Court of Justice, Viale Guidoni, Florence,

Palazzo di Giustizia (Court of Justice)
Viale Guidoni
Florence, December 2019

“The Tribunal of Florence (court of justice) is a large 21st-century complex on the Viale Guidoni in the Novoli quarter of Florence. Situated near the entry of the A11 highway and the Florence Airport, it is Italy's biggest tribunal building after that of Turin.” (Florence Courthouse, Wikipedia)

Thursday, June 4, 2020

FDNY Squad 18

FDNY Squad 18, West 10th Street, Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan, New York

FDNY Squad 18
West 10th Street
Greenwich Village, Lower Manhattan
New York, September 2007

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Carriage rides

Carriage rides, Rynek Główny, Stare Miasto (Old Town), Kraków

Carriage rides
Rynek Główny
Stare Miasto (Old Town)
Kraków, September 2018

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi

Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi, House of the Knights of Rhodes, Forum of Augustus, Rome

Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi
(House of the Knights of Rhodes)
Forum of Augustus
Rome, September 2019

“The Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi (House of the Knights of Rhodes) is a building in Rome. Sited in the ruins of the Forum of Augustus, it was built by the Knights Hospitaller at the end of the 13th century and since 1946 has been used by their successors, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. The Forum of Augustus and Temple of Mars Ultor were probably destroyed by earthquakes in the 5th century. In the medieval era it was known by several names - the forum itself as Foro transitorio, Foro di Nerva and Foro di San Basilio, and the temple as Palatium Traiani Imperatoris (palace of emperor Trajan) or the temple of Nerva (tempio di Nerva). 'Foro di San Basilio' refers to the first medieval use of the Forum, the small 10th century church of San Basilio al Foro di Augusto and its adjoining Basilian monastery, built on the podium of the temple and its exedra. The walls of that complex were found during the 1930s demolition phase and dated to the 9th-10th centuries. The Basilian church was a small oratory built into the temple's apse. It was originally intended to be used as a monastery. The convent was demolished in 1930 and the building was transferred to the Comune di Roma, which restored it between 1940 and 1950 before assigning it to the Order of Malta straight after World War Two.” (Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi, Wikipedia)

Monday, June 1, 2020

Casa de Santa Maria

Casa de Santa Maria, Farol de Santa Marta, Praceta Farol, Cascais

Casa de Santa Maria (House of Saint Mary)
Farol de Santa Marta (Santa Marta Lighthouse)
Praceta Farol
Cascais, April 2019

“The Casa de Santa Maria (House of Saint Mary) was once a luxurious private residence in Cascais, Lisbon District, Portugal. It was acquired by the Cascais Municipality in October 2004 and is now a museum. It blends several different architectural styles and influences. In the late 19th century, Jorge O'Neil, an aristocrat connected to the tobacco industry, purchased some land near the Santa Marta area of Cascais. He first had built what is now the Condes de Castro Guimarães Museum and, a little later, commissioned the Casa de Santa Maria as a wedding present for his daughter. This dates from 1902 and was designed by the architect Raul Lino, who began his career in Cascais, designing a series of houses for friends. In the case of Santa Maria, he was instructed to disregard the popular styles of the time and design the house using only materials found within Portugal. The eventual design was heavily influenced by the Moorish style of construction, which had shaped many of Portugal's finest buildings. This influence is most visible inside the building, with horseshoe arches connecting the central rooms.” (Casa de Santa Maria, Wikipedia)