Palacio de los Superunda

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Palacio de los Superunda
Plaza Corral de las Campanas
Ávila, September 2025

“The Palacio de los Superunda is a building in the Spanish city of Ávila , Castile and León . It has the status of Site of Cultural Interest. Located in the Castilian-Leonese city of Ávila, within the walled enclosure, close to the gates of the Matadero and the Rastro, along with other buildings of outstanding artistic and historical value. The palace, of Italian style, was built in the 16th century. In 1595 the stonemason Juan Vela carried out the works of the façade. Although its first resident was Ochoa de Aguirre, it owes its name to the Count of Superunda and Marquis of Bermudo, who had the opportunity to inherit it in the 19th century. This is a beautifully proportioned Renaissance building with a square floor plan. It consists of a basement, two floors, and two turrets at the ends of the main façade that break its horizontal character. The organization of the façade, although overall symmetrical, is not so in detail, as the doorway is under one of the side turrets.” (Palacio de los Superunda, Wikipedia)

Alberto Cavalletto

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Monument to Alberto Cavalletto by Augusto Sanavio, 1902
Via Cavalletto
Padua, May 2025

“Alberto Cavalletto (Padua, 28 November 1813 – Padua, 19 October 1897) was an Italian politician. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860 and a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Italy from 1864 to 1865 and from 1868 to 1892. In that year he was appointed senator of the Kingdom of Italy. He was born in Bassanello, a riverside suburb of Padua, on November 28, 1813, to Antonio Cavalletto and Maria Sandri. He graduated in hydraulic engineering from the University of Padua. He joined the ranks of the Liberals at a very young age, and in 1848 he fought in Vicenza as a major in the Brenta Bacchiglione Legion and played an active role in the defense of Venice. Arrested by the Austrian police in 1852, he was sentenced to death together with Tito Speri, Giovanni Malaman and other patriots, but obtained a commutation of the sentence to sixteen years of imprisonment, which was served in Josefstadt and Ljubljana. Released with the amnesty of 1856, he moved to Piedmont, where he continued his patriotic work in favour of the unification of Italy under the Savoy. From January 1859, Cavalletto became a key figure in the Central Political Committee of Veneto, created to coordinate the local secret committees that acted in the territory with propaganda actions against the Habsburg government. In the last years of Austrian domination in Veneto, Cavalletto was the instigator (or accomplice of the organisers) of various attacks and the throwing of ‘Orsini bombs’ against the houses of priests and private citizens accused of opposing unification. The Political Committee, of which the Paduan was secretary, was also responsible for financing protest demonstrations in Veneto and Friuli, characterised by the lighting of ‘Bengal fires’ and the display of tricolours.” (Alberto Cavalletto, Wikipedia)

Patatas Paco José

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Patatas Paco José
Calle Souviron
Málaga, March 2025

“In Malaga there is a blue and yellow store with a giant lollipop at the door, in the middle of the gray buildings of the city that forced me to take a break. The store Paco José, in fact, is a factory of fried potatoes and other types of chips. But also sells everything is crap. In a good way, of course! Rather than buying potatoes, I was intrigued with a pot of ‘stone balls’ with the perfectly shaped stones that are on the ground in any city, but which are actually sugar candies.” (Patatas and more, Minube)

Castel San Pietro

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Castel San Pietro
Piazzale Castel San Pietro
Verona, May 2025

“Colle San Pietro (Saint Peter’s Hill) is a hill, which rises a few hundred meters above the Roman Theatre. It is a place of great touristic interest. It's possible to reach it on foot thanks to the suggestive stairway that leaving from Ponte Pietra bordering the Roman Theatre, swiftly leads to its top. You can also easily reach Castel San Pietro using the funicular, so enjoying the view of the city. Then you can come back through a pleasant walk alongside the Roman Theatre, reaching Ponte Pietra. During the Roman age the hill was called ‘Monte Gallo’ (Rooster Mountain), and had a strong religious function because of its temple and theatre which is still preserved. The name ‘Colle San Pietro’ was given to the hill during the Medieval Period when a church dedicated to Saint Peter was erected on the remains of the ancient Roman temple. Being a strategic place of the town, starting from the medieval period up to 1321, when Cangrande della Scala was lord of the town, was fortified as a battlements point as typical of that historical period. Between the XIV and XV centuries, the hill, together with lots of other building works, the famous Castello Visconteo (the Castel of the Viscount) was erected, the reason being Gian Galeazzo Visconti, lord of the town, wanted the place to become a fortified stronghold controlling the whole town. The fortified citadel gained further importance with the Serenissima, which maintained the castle and constructed more around it. In 1801, when the Napoleonic army arrived, most of the ancient buildings were destroyed. The function of the site definitively chanced when the Austrians arrived. The ancient Saint Peter’s church was destroyed and, according to field marshal Radetzky will, an army base and barracks were built as a residence for the Austrian soldiers. The barracks are still at the top of the hill. The fortress style, designed by the Austrian engineer-officer Conrad Petrasch, dramatically changed the original look of the site: the structure had a clearly military look even though ‘softened’ by the crenels resembling the ancient ‘mura scaligere’, the surrounding city walls. The historical name ‘Castel San Pietro’ remains to identify this architectural complex rich in history. Thanks to its rich historical vestiges that still are preserved, Saint Peter’s Hill is a picturesque place, full of history and charm. Loved by tourists but most of all by Veronese people, it is a place not to be missed to enjoy the magnificent view of the fascinating Scaliger town.” (Castle San Pietro, VisitVerona)

Torres de Colón

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Torres de Colón (Columbus Towers) by Antonio Lamela, 1976
Calle de Génova, Chamberí
Madrid, September 2025

“Columbus Towers or Torres de Colón is a highrise office building composed of twin towers located at the Plaza de Colón in Madrid, Spain. The building constructed in 1976 was designed by the architect Antonio Lamela. The building with its 116-meter height and 23 floors is the twelfth-tallest in the Spanish capital (counting the CTBA towers). It was the headquarters of the Rumasa company, during which time its name was changed to Torres de Jerez (Towers of Jerez), in honour of the home town of the company. It is currently valued at $116 million. It is found in and dominates the Plaza de Colón, one of the major commercial centres in Madrid. The twin buildings are known locally as ‘El Enchufe’ or ‘The Plug’ for the plug-like structure that binds them. The towers have a suspended structure; the building consists of two pillars together on top of a platform from which hang two large towers with perimeter beams six feet singing with pendulums each floor with cable-stayed steel cables. Construction commenced with the concrete footings, the two central pillars and the upper platform. Then the towers were built from top to bottom, from the upper platform plant to plant closer to the base of the building. At the base, three floors (six floors including basements) were built from the bottom up. The glass facades are covered with maroon and green and there is a structure (the ‘plug’ added later) at the top. The building houses offices of various companies and shops on the lower floors.” (Torres de Colón, Wikipedia)

Paolo Rossi

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Paolo Rossi by Eduardo Kobra, 2024
Torre Everest
Viale Torino
Vicenza, May 2025

“Footballer and symbol of the Italian national team, with which he won the world championship in 1982, Paolo Rossi was a great talent of Italian football and sport. The latest mural by Eduardo Kobra (São Paulo, 1975), the internationally renowned Brazilian street artist known for his pop frescoes inspired by great historical figures, is dedicated to him. Recognized throughout the world for his kaleidoscopic style and strong graphic impact, the painter from São Paulo was ‘hired’ by the cultural association Wallabe to create a huge open-air painting in homage to the iconic footballer. The location chosen for the intervention (financed by a special crowdfunding campaign and thanks to the significant contribution of the Hera Group) was the Everest Tower, a seventeen-story building that is a symbol of the city of Vicenza and of the economic boom of the 1950s. Paolo Rossi spent several years of his career in the Veneto capital, remaining tied to the city even after the footballer's transfer to Juventus. With the artistic direction of Federica Sansoni, Eduardo Kobra's urban intervention aims to reaffirm the love of this place towards the athlete, condensing the values ??of humility, dedication and resilience that have always been associated with the figure of ‘Pablito’ into a huge outdoor fresco.” (Omaggio a Paolo Rossi, Artribune)

Daoiz and Velarde

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Monument to Daoiz and Velarde by Aniceto Marinas, 1910
Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia
Segovia, September 2025

“The Monument to Daoiz and Velarde (Spanish: Monumento a Daoiz y Velarde) is an instance of public art in Segovia, Spain. Designed by Aniceto Marinas, it is a memorial to Luis Daoiz y Torres and Pedro Velarde y Santillán, two Spanish artillery officers who fell fighting against the French army at the 1808 Dos de Mayo Uprising, in the context of the Peninsular War. It is located near the Alcázar of Segovia. The laying of the foundation stone was held on 6 May 1908, on the occasion of the festivities taking place in early May for the 100th anniversary of the Dos de Mayo uprising.” (Monument to Daoiz and Velarde, Wikipedia)

Cathedral and Baptistery

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Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and Baptistery
Piazza Duomo
Padua, May 2025

“Padua Cathedral, or Basilica Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (Italian: Duomo di Padova; Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta), is a Catholic church and minor basilica located on the east end of Piazza Duomo, adjacent to the bishop's palace in Padua, Veneto, Italy. The cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is the seat of the Bishop of Padua. The church building, first erected as a cathedral in the 4th century, has undergone major reconstructions over the centuries.” (Padua Cathedral, Wikipedia)
“The Padua Baptistery, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a baptistery on the Piazza del Duomo next to the cathedral in Padua, Italy. Preserved inside is one of the most important fresco cycles of the 14th century, a masterpiece by Giusto de' Menabuoi. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles, inscribed in 2021 for its outstanding cultural and artistic significance.” (Padua Baptistery, Wikipedia)

Convento de las Dueñas

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Convento de las Dueñas
Plaza del Concilio de Trento
Salamanca, September 2025

“The Convento de las Dueñas is a Dominican convent located in the city of Salamanca. It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The convent was founded in 1419 by Juana Rodriguez de Monroy in the palace that was property of her husband, Juan Sánchez de Sevilla, a prominent converso. The church and the cloister were built around 1533. The convent preserves some of the original mudejar gates of the palace. One of them leads to the cloister. The capitals of the upper storey are among the more prominent examples of the Plateresque.” (Convento de las Dueñas, Wikipedia)

Taras Shevchenko

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Taras Shevchenko by Oleg Pinchuk, 2021
Biblioteca delle Oblate
Via dell'Oriuolo
Florence, January 2025

“Florence has a long-standing relationship with Kyiv, having been twinned with the capital of Ukraine since July 27, 1967, when Catholic Mayor Piero Bargellini sought diplomacy with his Communist counterpart during the Cold War, a year after the devastating Florence flood of 1966. Sharing a history based on culture, in 2015, Florence gave a statue of Dante to Kyiv and, in 2021, the capital of Ukraine reciprocated by gifting a statue of the poet Taras Shevchenko to Florence, which continues to stand in the courtyard of the Oblate library. Just step through the gate and turn to the right. The base bears the powerful inscription: ‘Great Ukrainian poet, painter, thinker and humanist. Defender of freedom and civic duty. Fight and you will win’.” (Florence and Kyiv stand side by side, The Florentine)

Iglesia de San Juan

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Iglesia de San Juan
Calle Martín Carramolino
Ávila, September 2025

“The Church of San Juan is a Catholic temple located in the Spanish city of Ávila, in Castile and León. The building is located in the Plaza del Mercado Chico in Ávila, where it has one of its doors, although the main one is the one that opens onto San Juan Street. Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada was baptized in this church and over the years became known as Saint Teresa of Jesus. It was declared a national historical-artistic monument on April 13, 1983, by a decree published on June 11, 1983 in the Official State Gazette , with the signatures of King Juan Carlos I and the then Minister of Culture Javier Solana.” (Iglesia de San Juan, Wikipedia)

Corte Sgarzarie

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The 4th century Mangano loggia
Corte Sgarzarie
Verona, May 2025

“Corte Sgarzerie is a monumental complex located in the heart of the old town of Verona, at a short distance from Corso Porta Borsari and Piazza delle Erbe, consisting of a square by the same name and a late-medieval loggia. Under the square are located the remnants of the Veronese ‘Capitolium’. It is a place deeply rooted to wool production, as the toponym itself attests – ‘sgarzarie’ is a Veronese form of the word ‘scardasserie’, places dedicated to the carding activity. During the thirteenth century the Veronese wool industry activity increased significantly, to the point that the techniques of production and the production itself became highly sought after in several markets of northern and central Italy. During the principality of Mastino II della Scala, the activity reached even higher levels of production, and several measures were taken to better organize the whole manufacturing effort, concentrated mainly at Corte Sgarzerie. Therefore, it was likely that during his government that the so-called Mangano loggia was built; this was located in the center of the square and still gives its unique characteristics today; this was in fact necessary to give more space to wool workers, as it could measure, weigh and stamp products and gave opportunity to negotiate and haggle.” (Corte Sgarzerie, Wikipedia)

Fuente de Reding

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Fuente de Reding (Reding Fountain), 1675
Paseo de Sancha
Málaga, March 2025

“The Reding Fountain is a historic 17th century fountain located in the Andalusian city of Málaga, Spain. It has been reproduced countless times by local painters. It is located at one end of Príes Avenue and, although it is currently connected to the public water supply network, it previously channeled spring water from Mount Gibralfaro. It is a drinking fountain built in marble and attached to a pediment between pilasters that give it a monumental appearance. At the bottom, above the basin, there is a figurehead in the shape of an imaginary fish surrounded by acanthus and borders, from whose mouth the fountain's single spout flows. Above this figurehead is a marble plaque with an inscription relating to the road renovation that gave rise to the current Paseo de Reding, as well as the completion date of the work. Between the basin and the figurehead is an inscription relating to the construction of Paseo de Reding itself and the restoration of the fountain during the time of Theodore Reding.” (Fuente de Reding, Wikipedia)

Parco Querini

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Parco Querini
Viale Rumor
Vicenza, May 2025

“Querini Park is one of the main green lungs of the city of Vicenza. Located in the historic center, it is characterized by vast expanses of lawns, bordered by a large wood full of plants and has an extension of approximately 12 hectares. Querini Park is located in the north-eastern sector of the historic center, surrounded on two sides by the banks of the Bacchiglione river and its tributary Astichello , and on the third side by the line of the Venetian walls, along today's Viale Rodolfi. From the back of Palazzo Querini, a majestic tree-lined avenue branches off, flanked by classical statues, which runs lengthwise through the park until it reaches the pond surrounding a small island (not accessible to the public despite the pedestrian bridge), surmounted by a small temple.” (Parco Querini, Wikipedia)

Museo Sorolla

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Museo Sorolla
Paseo del General Martínez Campos, Chamberí
Madrid, September 2025

“The Sorolla Museum (Spanish: Museo Sorolla) is a single-artist museum in Madrid, Spain, devoted to the work and life of Joaquín Sorolla and the members of his family, such as his daughter Elena. The museum is located in the house that was the artist's home and workshop, which was converted into a museum after the death of his widow. It is one of the National Museums of Spain and it is attached to the Ministry of Culture. The building was designed by Enrique María Repullés. The principal rooms continue to be furnished as they were during the artist's life, including Sorolla's large, well-lit studio, where the walls are filled with his canvasses. Other rooms are used as galleries to display Sorolla's paintings, while the upstairs rooms are a gallery for temporary exhibitions. In 2014, these rooms presented an exhibition of David Palacin photographs of the ballet Sorolla produced by the Spanish National Dance Company.” (Sorolla Museum, Wikipedia)

Loggia del Consiglio

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Loggia del Consiglio (Lodge of Council or of Gran Guardia)
Piazza dei Signori
Padua, May 2025

"The Loggia del Consiglio, also known as the Loggia della Gran Guardia, is a Renaissance building overlooking Piazza dei Signori in Padua. It was built starting in 1491 as the seat of the Gran Consiglio. It was built on a project presented by Annibale Maggi and the construction was completed in 1536, according to some studies, under the direction of Giovanni Maria Falconetto. The upper hall was frescoed in 1667 by Pier Antonio Torri. During the Austrian domination it became the seat of the ‘Gran Guardia’, the military command of the city.” (Loggia del Consiglio, Wikipedia)

San Juan de los Caballeros

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Iglesia de San Juan de los Caballeros (Museo Zuloaga)
Plaza de Colmenares
Segovia, September 2025

“The church of San Juan de los Caballeros is a building in the Spanish city of Segovia. Once a Catholic church, it now houses the Zuloaga Museum. The Romanesque style church of San Juan de los Caballeros is located in the Plaza de Colmenares in the city of Segovia. It was owned by Daniel Zuloaga, who used it as an artist's studio.” (Iglesia de San Juan de los Caballeros, Wikipedia)

Casa-galleria Vichi

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Casa-galleria Vichi by Giovanni Michelazzi, 1911
Via Borgo Ognissanti
Florence, January 2025

“The Casa-galleria Vichi (Vichi house-gallery) is an Art Nouveau building in Florence, located in via Borgo Ognissanti, a few steps from the church of Ognissanti. The house was built according to a design by the architect Giovanni Michelazzi on commission from Argia Marinai nei Vichi and is, in addition to the most representative work of this architect, one of the few Liberty style buildings in the centre of Florence, certainly the most representative for the programmatic desire to adhere to the new style, proposed in a very personal way and without any compromise with local tradition. Since it appears to have been registered in the Old Urban Cadastre in 1913, it can be considered completed in 1911: in the years 1913-1914 Michelazzi himself lived there and probably also set up his studio there. In 2009, given the precarious state of conservation of the façade and its evident value, both for the overall design (the building has been subject to architectural constraints since 1965) and for the quality of the fake travertine (of extraordinary chromatic and material verisimilitude as can be seen by comparing it with that of the nearby church of Ognissanti), the front was subjected to careful restoration based on the design and direction of the works by the architect Renzo Funaro and the high supervision of the competent Superintendency (architect Lia Pescatori). Restorer Francesca Piccolino Boniforti worked on the artificial stone elements.” (Casa-galleria Vichi, Wikipedia)

Convento de San Esteban

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Convento de San Esteban
Plaza del Concilio de Trento
Salamanca, September 2025

“The Convento de San Esteban is a Dominican monastery of Plateresque style, situated in the Plaza del Concilio de Trento (Square of the Council of Trent) in Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. The Dominicans settled in Salamanca between 1255 and 1256. On the present site of the convent, occupied by the parish church of San Esteban, they built the primitive convent, later destroyed to build the present one, in 1524 on the initiative of Cardinal Friar Juan Álvarez de Toledo. Its construction lasted until 1610, with the participation of Friar Martín de Santiago, Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón, Juan Ribero de Rada and Pedro Gutiérrez. However, the plan and design are by Juan de Álava, who began the work in 1524, as evidenced by the preserved plan of this same master. Rodrigo Gil de Hontañón was in charge of the transept with the dome and the chancel. Although it is considered an excellent example of the Plateresque style, the length of its construction phases explains the mixture of styles ranging from the final Gothic to the Baroque, a style that is not very noticeable in its architecture but is well present in the main altarpiece by José Benito de Churriguera.” (Convento de San Esteban, Wikipedia)

Porta Leoni

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Porta Leoni (Gate of the Lions)
Via Leoni
Verona, May 2025

“Porta Leoni (Gate of the Lions) is an ancient Roman gate in Verona, northern Italy. The gate was built during the Roman Republic by P. Valerius, Q. Caecilius, Q. Servilius and P. Cornelius, and restructured in imperial times. It was connected to the road which led to Bologna and Aquileia. The original Roman name is unknown. During the Middle Ages it was called Porta San Fermo, due to the nearby church, while in the Renaissance it was known as ‘Arco di Valerio’. The current name derives from a Roman tomb decorated with two lions (Italian: leoni), now moved near Ponte Navi. The gate has a square structures, with a double façade and two towers which looked towards the countryside. Now only half of the inner façade, covered with white stone in the imperial age, and the foundings are visible. The original decorations are all lost. The lower part is similar to that of Porta Borsari (also in Verona), while the upper part has an exedra with twisted columns.” (Porta Leoni, Wikipedia)

Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola

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Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola
Plaza Teniente Arévalo
Ávila, September 2025

“It dates back to 1623 with the acquisition by Archbishop Diego de Guzmán of some medieval buildings renovated in the 16th century, within the Dávila palace complex and adjoining the southern section of the wall within the walls. On the northern façade, a series of elements remain (a massive defensive tower, twin windows, and a large voussoired doorway) that denote its civil origin. The Jesuits settled there, adapting the acquired buildings to serve as a church, school, and hospice. After the expulsion of the Society of Jesus—decreed by Charles III in 1775—the premises became the Episcopal Palace (a function it still performs today), and the church was renamed Santo Tomé el Nuevo. It has three naves, each topped by its own apse (which, surprisingly, faces west), with no transept and a dome on pendentives; the side apses are unremarkable on the exterior. Inside, a high gallery, like a tribune and an exceptional case in the city of Ávila, runs along the side naves, serving as the Episcopal Archive. The different chapels house an interesting collection of Baroque and Churrigueresque altarpieces.” (San Ignacio de Loyola, ÁvilaTurismo)

Palazzo Chiericati

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Palazzo Chiericati
Piazza Matteotti
Vicenza, May 2025

“The Palazzo Chiericati is a Renaissance palace in Vicenza (northern Italy), designed by Andrea Palladio. Palladio was asked to design and build the palazzo by Count Girolamo Chiericati. The architect started building the palace in 1550, and some further work was completed under the patronage of Chiericati's son, Valerio. However, the palazzo was not fully finished until about 1680, possibly by Carlo Borella. Palladio also designed a country home, the Villa Chiericati, for the family. The palazzo was built in an area called ‘piazza dell'Isola’ (island square, currently Piazza Matteotti), which housed the wood and cattle market. At that time, it was an islet surrounded by the Retrone and Bacchiglione streams, and to protect the structure from the frequent floods, Palladio designed it on an elevated position: the entrance could be accessed by a triple Classic-style staircase.” (Palazzo Chiericati, Wikipedia)

Centro de Ciberseguridad de Andalucía

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Centro de Ciberseguridad de Andalucía
Palmeral de las Sorpresas
Paseo del Muelle Uno
Málaga, March 2025

“Located in the Palmeral de las Sorpresas, on Muelle 2 of the Port of Malaga, the Andalusian Cybersecurity Center is a cutting-edge institution destined to become the most important in Southern Europe. A benchmark center created with the mission of coordinating the Andalusian Cybersecurity Strategy 2022-2025. The building features modern facilities and houses the Andalusian Regional Government's Security Operations Center (SOC), as well as separate spaces designed to offer specific services to citizens, private companies, and public institutions within the Andalusian digital ecosystem.” (Centro de Ciberseguridad de Andalucía, Junta de Andalucía)

Palazzo della Ragione

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Palazzo della Ragione
Piazza delle Erbe
Padua, May 2025

“The Palazzo della Ragione is a medieval market hall, town hall and palace of justice building in Padua, in the Veneto region of Italy. The upper floor was dedicated to the town and justice administration; while the ground floor still hosts the historical covered market of the city. The palace separates the two market squares of Piazza delle Erbe from Piazza dei Frutti. It is popularly called il Salone (the big hall). It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed as ‘Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles’ in 2021. The building, with its great hall on the upper floor is believed to be one of the largest medieval halls still extant. The hall is nearly rectangular, its length 81.5m, its breadth 27m, and its height 24 m; the walls are covered with allegorical frescoes. The building stands on arches, and the upper storey is flanked by an open loggia, not unlike that which surrounds the Basilica Palladiana in Vicenza, that was indeed inspired by Padua's Palazzo della Ragione.” (Palazzo della Ragione,Wikipedia)

Monumento a Calvo Sotelo

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Monumento a Calvo Sotelo by Carlos Ferreira de la Torre, 1960
Paseo de la Castellana
Madrid, September 2025

“The Monument to Calvo Sotelo (Spanish: Monumento a Calvo Sotelo) is an instance of public art located in Madrid, Spain. Erected on the south of the Plaza de Castilla, it is dedicated to José Calvo Sotelo, who was assassinated shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The monument was an initiative of the ‘National Junta’ for the homage to the Glorious Proto-Martyr of the Crusade Don José Calvo Sotelo, an entity reanimated in 1954 by the Francoist dictatorship in order to resume earlier Burgos government's projects dating back to 1938 intending to commemorate the aforementioned politician and delayed by the then ongoing state of war. The location of the monument was decided in 1958. Commissioned to Manuel Manzano-Monís (architect) and Carlos Ferreira de la Torre (sculptor), the monument fuses the aesthetics of Italian fascism with the Spanish vanguard of the time. Made of reinforced concrete, the single written inscription on the material reads ‘España a Calvo Sotelo’ (Spain to Calvo Sotelo). It was unveiled on 13 July 1960. It was slightly relocated in 1992 during the works of reform of the Plaza de Castilla and put on a raised platform in the south end of the plaza. Its frontal perspective generates an axis of symmetry with the Puerta de Europa twin towers.” (Monument to Calvo Sotelo, Wikipedia)

Hercules and the Lion

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“Ercole e il Leone” (Hercules and the Lion) by Romano Romanelli, 1935
Piazza Ognissanti
Florence, January 2025

“At the centre of the square there is currently a bronze group by Romano Romanelli depicting ‘Hercules and the Lion’, created in 1935 and placed here in 1937, replacing a previous monument depicting Daniele Manin (work by Urbano Nono from 1890) moved to Piazzale Galileo along Viale dei Colli, in the Arcetri area.” (Piazza Ognissanti, Wikipedia)

Casa de las Cadenas

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Casa de las Cadenas
Plaza del Conde de Cheste
Segovia, September 2025

“The Casa de las Cadenas (House of Chains) is a building in the Spanish city of Segovia. It has the status of a Site of Cultural Interest. It is a defensive building with origins as old as the walls to which it is attached. The building was part of one of the abutments of the now-disappeared San Juan Gate that served as an entrance to the city, as a defensive bastion that protected the northeastern flank of the city. It is located at number 6, Plaza del Conde de Cheste.” (Casa de las Cadenas, Wikipedia)

San Bernardino

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Church of San Bernardino
Stradone Antonio Provolo
Verona, May 2025

“San Bernardino is a church in Verona, northern Italy. The church, in Gothic style, was built from 1451 to 1466. The church's origin are connected to the presence of San Bernardino in the city from 1422, during which he founded a convent of nuns for the order of the Minor Friars and, later, another one for monks. He was canonized in 1450, six years after his death, and in 1451-1452 his successor Giovanni da Capestrano, with the bishop of Verona, Francesco Condulmerio, started the construction of a large complex for the order in Verona, with the support of the Venetian doge Francesco Foscari. This was consecrated in 1453, though the nave and its ceiling were completed only in 1466. Later a smaller aisle was added. The six bells in E are rung with Veronese bellringing art.” (San Bernardino, Wikipedia)

Catedral Vieja de Santa María

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Catedral Vieja de Santa María
(Old Cathedral of Santa María)
Plaza Juan XXIII
Salamanca, September 2025

“The Cathedral of Santa María (Spanish: Catedral Vieja de Santa María), known as the Old Cathedral, is one of the two cathedrals in Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. Founded by Bishop Jerome of Périgord, its construction began in the first third of the 12th century and was finished at the end of the 14th century, in Romanesque and Gothic style. It was finished thanks to the impulse given to the works by Bishop Alfonso Barasaque. It is dedicated to Saint Mary of the See (Santa María de la Sede). It began to be built on the initiative of its first bishop, Jerome of Périgord (died in 1120) after the restoration of the diocese of Salamanca by King Alfonso VI of León, and after the repopulation of the city carried out by his son-in-law Raymond of Burgundy. This was a period in which Romanesque was giving way to Gothic, something that can be seen in the difference between the pillars and the starts of the ribbed vaults, since there is no constructive continuity between them, as the former were designed to support a barrel vault, and the cathedral was completed in 1236.” (Old Cathedral of Salamanca, Wikipedia)

Cloister of San Lorenzo

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Cloister
Church of San Lorenzo
Piazza San Lorenzo
Vicenza, May 2025

“The original cloister, built in the first half of the fourteenth century, was lost and replaced by the current one at the end of the fifteenth century, in elegant classical-Renaissance forms. In the centre of the courtyard, a Gothic wellhead from the second half of the fourteenth century was placed in the last century, which bears the coat of arms of the Loschi family on its four sides. On the northern side, under the portico surmounted by the convent cells, the chapter house opens up, flanked by two beautiful late thirteenth-century mullioned windows with elegant white marble columns, inserted into pointed Gothic arches. Also under the portico, on the eastern and western sides, numerous tombstones, statues and funerary urns belonging to different centuries, collected when, in the nineteenth century, it was decided to make San Lorenzo the city temple.” (Church of San Lorenzo, Wikipedia)

Palacio de Valderrábanos

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Palacio de Valderrábanos
Plaza de la Catedral
Ávila, September 2025

“The Palacio de Valderrábanos, also known as the house of Gonzálo Dávila , is a 14th- century building located in the cathedral square of Ávila. On the main façade, from its initial construction, a relief is preserved above the entrance, supported by a maiden under a trefoil arch. This relief shows the helmet with a plume and a Moorish banner with a half-moon. It is surrounded by a ribbon with the following inscription in Latin: ‘Non nobis Domine, non nobis. Sed nomini tuo da gloriam’ (Not to us, Lord, not to us; but glory to your name). It comes from Psalm 113:9 that Saint Bernard of Clairvaux imposed on the Order of the Knights Templar as a motto. On the right side, there is a large tower built of brick and adobe. The façade also still retains its mullioned windows, some of them twinned. It belonged to Gonzalo Dávila de Ágreda, a knight who was master of the Catholic Monarchs, governor of the Maestrazgo de Calatrava and mayor of Jerez. The palace was renovated and is currently used as a hotel. The wooden ceilings and coffered ceiling of the former Valderrábanos palace are on display in the Ávila Museum. The first client of the remodeled Palacio de Valderrábanos, converted into a hotel, was Adolfo Suárez, who stayed in room 126 in 1971.” (Palacio de Valderrábanos, Wikipedia)

Tomba di Antenore

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Tomba di Antenore (Tomb of Antenor)
Piazza Antenore
Padua, May 2025

“The Tomb of Antenor, also called the Sepulchre of Antenore, is a 13th-century monument created to honor an unearthed ancient sarcophagus, claimed to be that of the Trojan warrior and counselor Antenor, the legendary founder of Padua; it is located in Piazza Antenore, in Padua, region of Veneto, Italy. In 1274, during the construction of an orphanage in Padua, an ancient marble sarcophagus was uncovered. A local scholar, Lovato dei Lovati, said to have found inscriptions on a bronze plaque attached to the inner wooden coffin, stating the burial contained the body of Antenor.” (Tomb of Antenor, Wikipedia)

Federico García Lorca

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Statue of Federico García Lorca
Café Chinitas
Pasaje Chinitas
Málaga, March 2025

“The Café Chinitas, known to its regulars as Café El Chinitas or Café de Chinitas, was a small theatre or café singer that began its journey in the mid- 19th century in the Spanish city of Málaga (Andalusia) between 1857 and its final closure in 1937 by the Málaga municipal authorities during the Civil War. The establishment opened to the Málaga public as a theatre called Salón Royal until it was changed; on the posters advertising its shows, it was advertised as ‘Salón-Teatro Chinitas’. The name comes from a dramatic actor named Chinitas. On September 30, 2024, it reopened its doors after 87 years, in its same location, maintaining the essence of what it once was. In the renovated Café Chinitas, we can see a life-size statue of Lorca, leaning on the bar that welcomes visitors, a reminder of the poet's intimate connection with this place.” (Café Chinitas, Wikipedia)

Arno and its Valley

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‘Arno and its Valley’ by Italo Griselli, 1935
Palazzina Reale di Santa Maria Novella
Via Valfonda
Florence, January 2025

“On the side facing via Valfonda, the Palazzina is preceded by an exedra originally intended for the manoeuvring of vehicles in front of the entrance portico, surrounded by a wall punctuated by pilasters. In this space there is a long basin covered in blue tiles and bordered in marble, in which the white statuary group of the ‘Arno and its Valley’, the work of Italo Griselli, is reflected, leaning against the ‘full’ sector of the portico of honour. The fountain is composed of a male and a female figure in a seated position, typical of the representation of rivers, in front of a large basin-pool.” (Palazzina Reale di Santa Maria Novella, Wikipedia)

Torre Cepsa

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Torre Cepsa by Norman Foster, 2008
Paseo de la Castellana
Madrid, September 2025

“The Torre Moeve (Moeve Tower) is a skyscraper located in the Cuatro Torres Business Area in Madrid, Spain. With a height of 248.3 m (815 ft) and 45 floors, it is the second tallest of the four buildings in the Cuatro Torres Business Area complex, surpassed by Torre de Cristal by less than a metre. It is the second tallest building in Spain and the 5th tallest building in the European Union. It was successively named the Torre Repsol, the Torre Caja Madrid, the Torre Bankia, the Torre Cepsa between 2014 and 2024, and currently the Torre Moeve, depending on which major Spanish company had the lease. Designed by Lord Foster — and this also colloquially referred to as the Torre Foster, — it was built by a joint venture of Dragados and Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas. The tower was initially known as Torre Repsol and would have served as headquarters for Repsol YPF oil and gas company. During the construction of the tower, Repsol decided to change the location of its future headquarters and the financial institution Caja Madrid purchased the building for €815 million in August 2007. In 2016 it was bought by Amancio Ortega, Europe's richest man and founder of global fashion group and Zara owner Inditex (ITX.MC), for €490 million euros through his property investment arm, Pontegadea Inmobiliaria, one of the biggest property companies in Spain. He purchased the tower from Abu Dhabi tycoon Khadem al-Qubaisi, whose fund had exercised a last-minute purchase option from Spanish lender Bankia (BKIA.MC), its previous owner. The current name of the tower refers to the energy company Moeve, previously known as Cepsa, headquartered in the building. It is likely to change its name once again if Moeve goes ahead with the plan to move its HQ to another part of Madrid.” (Torre Cepsa, Wikipedia)

Basilica of San Zeno

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Basilica of San Zeno
Piazza San Zeno
Verona, May 2025

“The Basilica di San Zeno (also known as San Zeno Maggiore or San Zenone) is a minor basilica of Verona, northern Italy constructed between 967 and 1398 AD. Its fame rests partly on its Romanesque architecture and partly upon the tradition that its crypt was the place of the marriage of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. St. Zeno died around 371–380. According to legend, at a site above his tomb along the Via Gallica, the first small church was erected by Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Erection of the present basilica and associated monastery began in the 9th century, when Bishop Ratoldus and King Pepin of Italy attended the translation of the saint's relics into the new church. This edifice was damaged or destroyed by a Magyar invasion in the early 10th-century, at which time Zeno's body was moved to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Matricolare: on May 21, 921, it was returned to its original site in the crypt of the present church. In 967, a new Romanesque edifice was built by Bishop Raterius, with the patronage of Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor. On January 3, 1117, the church, along with most of the city, was damaged by an earthquake; the church was restored and enlarged in 1138. Work was completed in 1398 with the reconstruction of the roof and of the Gothic-style apse.” (Basilica of San Zeno, Wikipedia)

Roman aqueduct

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Roman aqueduct
Plaza del Azoguejo
Segovia, September 2025

“The Aqueduct of Segovia (Spanish: Acueducto de Segovia) is a Roman aqueduct in Spain, built around the first century AD to channel water from springs in the mountains 17 kilometres (11 mi) to Segovia's fountains, public baths and private houses, in use until 1973. Its elevated section, with its complete arcade of 167 arches, is one of the best-preserved Roman aqueduct bridges and the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms. The Old Town of Segovia and the aqueduct were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.” (Aqueduct of Segovia, Wikipedia)

Church of San Lorenzo

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Church of San Lorenzo
Piazza San Lorenzo
Vicenza, May 2025

“The church of San Lorenzo is a Catholic place of worship in Vicenza, built at the end of the 13th century in Gothic style, in its Lombard-Padanian version of the 13th century. It is located in the central Piazza San Lorenzo, along Corso Fogazzaro, and was officiated by the Conventual Franciscans until 2017. The presence of the Franciscans in Vicenza dates back, most likely, to the time when their founder was still alive: perhaps 1216; his passage through the city, however, is not documented. It seems that in 1222 they officiated at the church of San Salvatore, the location of which is not clear, whether in contrà Carpagnon or in the contrà later renamed San Francesco Vecchio near the bishop's palace, where in 1232 they renovated or built their own church. It is certain, however, that in 1280 they exchanged this last church for the chapel of San Lorenzo in Portanova - built 40 years earlier close to the early medieval walls - and for an adjacent piece of land.” (Church of San Lorenzo, Wikipedia)

Palacio de Anaya

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Palacio de Anaya
Plaza de Anaya
Salamanca, September 2025

“Construction of the Anaya Palace began in 1760, based on plans by José Hermosilla. The entire building is in the neoclassical style, with highlights including the main façade, with four large Ionic columns topped by a triangular pediment, with wide steps leading up to it. Inside, the patio has a double gallery of 16 Doric columns on the lower floor and 16 Composite-Ionic columns in the upper gallery. The two floors of the building are connected by a magnificent imperial staircase on which there is a bust of Don Miguel de Unamuno. It is also known as the Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé. It is currently the Faculty of Philology of the University of Salamanca.” (Anaya Palace, Spain.info)

Oratorio di San Giorgio

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Oratorio di San Giorgio
Piazza del Santo
Padua, May 2025

“The Oratorio di San Giorgio or St George's Oratory is a Gothic-style Roman Catholic chapel or prayer hall in Padua, region of Veneto, Italy. It is notable for its frescoed interiors. The oratory is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles, inscribed in 2021 for its exceptional example of 14th-century monumental painting. The oratory was initially built as a free-standing structure by the Marquis Soragna Raimondino de’ Lupi in 1376 as a family funerary chapel. The Oratory is located on the same plaza as the imposing Basilica di Sant'Antonio di Padova. The interior walls are lined with twenty-two narrative frescoed images, commissioned by Raimondino de’ Lupis, in the form of frescoes that depict scenes from the lives of Saint George, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Saint Lucy, and Jesus Christ. The altar wall displays the Crucifixion, and the barrel-vaulted ceiling is decorated with stars. Largely, this tomb has been lost to time, but it was said to include ten life-sized statues of de’ Lupi and his family, two of which are still standing today. Altichiero da Zevio and his associates, including Jacopo d'Avanzi and Sebeto da Verona completed the fresco cycle in 1384; during the Napoleonic Wars, they were whitewashed over until their rediscovery in 1837. As a result, many of them are damaged.” (Oratory of San Giorgio, Wikipedia)

Murallas

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Murallas (Walls)
Ávila, September 2025

“The Walls of Ávila, completed between the 11th and 14th centuries, are the defensive walls of Ávila, Spain, and its principal historic feature. These medieval fortifications are the most complete and best preserved in all the country. The Old Town of Ávila, including the walls and its extramural churches, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. The work was started in 1090 but most of the defensive wall appears to have been rebuilt in the 12th century. The enclosed area is an irregular rectangle of 31 hectares (77 acres) with a perimeter of some 2,516 metres (8,255 ft), including 88 semicircular towers. The walls have an average width of 3 metres (9.8 ft) and an average height of 12 metres (39 ft). The nine gates were completed over several different periods.” (Walls of Ávila, Wikipedia)

Palazzina Reale di Santa Maria Novella

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Palazzina Reale di Santa Maria Novella, 1935
Via Valfonda
Florence, January 2025

“The building was inaugurated together with the station on 30 October 1935 in the presence of King Vittorio Emanuele III and Minister Costanzo Ciano. Intended as a temporary residence and rest stop for the King and his court (who no longer had access to the Pitti Palace after it had been opened as a museum), the building, whose ‘style’ architecture appears ‘far from the fluid rationalism of the Fabbricato Viaggiatori’, is characterised by the preciousness of the covering materials, the sophistication of the details and the finishings.” (Palazzina Reale di Santa Maria Novella, Wikipedia)

Café Chinitas

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Café Chinitas
Pasaje Chinitas
Málaga, March 2025

“The Café Chinitas, known to its regulars as Café El Chinitas or Café de Chinitas, was a small theatre or café singer that began its journey in the mid- 19th century in the Spanish city of Málaga (Andalusia) between 1857 and its final closure in 1937 by the Málaga municipal authorities during the Civil War. The establishment opened to the Málaga public as a theatre called Salón Royal until it was changed; on the posters advertising its shows, it was advertised as ‘Salón-Teatro Chinitas’. The name comes from a dramatic actor named Chinitas. On September 30, 2024, it reopened its doors after 87 years, in its same location, maintaining the essence of what it once was. In the renovated Café Chinitas, we can see a life-size statue of Lorca, leaning on the bar that welcomes visitors, a reminder of the poet's intimate connection with this place.” (Café Chinitas, Wikipedia)

Arena di Verona

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Arena di Verona (Verona Arena)
Piazza Bra
Verona, May 2025

“The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre located in the historic center of Verona, an iconic symbol of the Venetian city alongside the figures of Romeo and Juliet. It stands as one of the grand structures that defined Roman architecture and is among the best-preserved ancient amphitheatres to have survived into the modern era. This remarkable state of preservation is largely due to systematic restoration efforts that began in the 16th century; as a result, despite numerous transformations over time, the Arena allows visitors to easily grasp the design of such buildings. These structures were meticulously engineered for their intended purpose yet possessed an essential, understated beauty. During the summer months, the Arena hosts the renowned Arena di Verona Festival, with opera seasons that have run uninterrupted since 1913, while throughout the rest of the year, it serves as a venue for numerous international singers and musicians.” (Verona Arena, Wikipedia)

Torre de Cristal

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Torre de Cristal (Glass Tower) by Cesar Pelli, 2008
Paseo de la Castellana
Madrid, September 2025

“The Torre de Cristal (Glass Tower) is a skyscraper in the Cuatro Torres Business Area (CTBA) in Madrid, Spain, completed in 2008. With a final height of 249 m (817 ft), it surpassed Torre Emperador as the tallest building in Spain, and is the fifth-tallest in the European Union. It was designed by Cesar Pelli and built by Dragados.” (Torre de Cristal, Wikipedia)

Palazzo Trissino

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Palazzo Trissino
Corso Palladio
Vicenza, May 2025

“Palazzo Trissino al Corso (also known as Trissino Baston) is a building located along Corso Palladio, corner of Contrà Cavour, in Vicenza, designed by the architect Vincenzo Scamozzi. Since 1901 it has been the main seat of the Municipality of Vicenza. The building is characterised by the presence of classical elements in the facade on the Corso and is arranged around the square of the central courtyard. The palace stands a few blocks from other buildings linked to the Trissino family, such as Palazzo Trissino al Duomo in contrà Cesare Battisti, Palazzo Trissino Sperotti in contrà Porti, Palazzo Trissino Lanza in contrà Riale.” (Palazzo Trissino, Wikipedia)

Iglesia de San Clemente

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Iglesia de San Clemente
Avenida del Acueducto
Segovia, September 2025

“The church of San Clemente is a Romanesque-style Catholic church in the Spanish city of Segovia. The church stands between the streets of Marqués de Mondéjar, Gobernador Fernández Jiménez, and Doctor Sancho. Its construction took place in the 17th century and during the 18th century the atrium, the tower and the apse chapel or Chapel of Peace were built. During the War of Independence the tower was destroyed except for the first body, this was rebuilt in 1812, but was destroyed again during the first Carlist war in 1837. The 4 bells that are currently in the tower arrived at the temple between the 17th and 18th centuries. At the beginning of the 20th century, the parish was attached to the parish of San Millán, as it remains today, with the San Millán brotherhood keeping its banners in the apse chapel.” (Iglesia de San Clemente, Wikipedia)

Prato della Valle

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The canal bordered by two rings of statues
Prato della Valle
Padua, May 2025

“Prato della Valle (Prà de ła Vałe in Venetian) is a 90,000-square-meter elliptical square in Padua, Italy. It is the second largest square in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Today, the square is a large space with a green island at the center, l'Isola Memmia, surrounded by a small canal bordered by two rings of statues. Prior to 1635, the area that would come to be known as the ‘Prato della valle’ was largely a featureless expanse of partially swampy terrain just south of the old city walls of Padova. In 1636, a group of Venetian and Veneto notables financed the construction of a temporary but lavishly appointed theater as a venue for mock battles on horseback. The musical entertainment that served as the prologue to the jousting is considered to be the immediate predecessor of the first public opera performances in Venice, which began the following year.” (Prato della Valle, Wikipedia)

Catedral de la Asunción de la Virgen

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Catedral de la Asunción de la Virgen
Plaza de Anaya
Salamanca, September 2025

“The Catedral de la Asunción de la Virgen (Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary), popularly known as New Cathedral (Catedral Nueva) is, together with the Old Cathedral, one of the two cathedrals of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. It is the seat of the diocese of Salamanca. It was constructed between 1533 and 1733 mixing late Gothic, Plateresque and Baroque styles. It was commissioned by Ferdinand V of Castile. It is one of the largest cathedrals in Spain in size and its bell tower, at 92 meters high, is also one of the tallest.” (New Cathedral of Salamanca, Wikipedia)

Monumento alla pace

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Monumento alla pace (Peace Monument) by Sauro Cavallini, 1979
Giardino di Valfonda
Via Valfonda
Florence, January 2025

“This is the garden of Villa Vittoria, a building designed in 1520 probably by Baccio d'Agnolo. According to historical sources, this green space stretched over a large area extending from Via Valfonda to Fortezza da Basso and Via della Scala, later downsized to make room for the Santa Maria Novella train station.” (Giardino di Valfonda, Florence by Tram)