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Hagia Sophia is a familiar landmark of Istanbul. The cathedral was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian between 532 and 537 and is considered the prime example of Byzantine architecture. It is famous for its huge dome. After Byzantium was conquered by the Ottoman Turks in 1453, the city became Muslim and Hagia Sophia became a mosque. It was very dark inside. My main impression was of its immense size and the incredible height of the roof. There are some beautiful mosaics as well. I believe it has now become a museum.
Westminster Abbey, photographed in 1997, is a very familiar London landmark.
Mdina, the old capital of Malta, is a medieval walled town. We spent a day walking there in 2000 admiring the many old buildings like the church in the photo. Mdina appeared not to have changed at all since medieval times. There were many narrow streets and only a few people.
The Basilica of Maria Maggiore, photographed in 1994, is only one of the many beautiful buildings in Rome.
In 2008 we visited this very attractive cathedral, built between the 13th and 16th centuries, and located in Quimper, Finistere, Brittany. The stained glass is some of the nicest we have seen. It is easy to imagine from this example how stained glass was originally intended as a way to instruct people about Christianity and the life of Christ at a time when hardly anyone could read and write.
Before we took our 2008 vacation in the north of France, we had heard of Mont St. Michel and seen photos of it. As we approached it, I wondered if seeing it was worth the huge climb that would be required and if, in fact, we were up to it physically. Once we began, however, it wasn't so bad, and seeing the interior of the abbey church was well worth the effort.
St. George's Chapel, located at Windsor Castle in the south of England, is a fine example of the Perpendicular Gothic style of architecture. It was founded in 1348 by King Edward III with improvements and enlargements made between 1475 and 1528. It is where funerals of the Kings and Queens of England are held and where they are buried. The photo was taken in 1997.
We had a very enjoyable walk in 1998 in an area of London which contains many medieval buildings including the Inns of Court. The photo shows the Temple Church which was built in the 11th Century by the Knights Templar, an order of soldier knights who fought in the Crusades. It is a fine church and has the added attraction of being associated with the romantic, mysterious history of the Knights which culminated in their being disbanded by Rome.
The wonder of Bruges is that it remains much as it was hundreds of years ago as a result of losing its economic primacy to Antwerp in the 15th Century when its canals silted up. It is the only place I know where you can point your camera in any direction and be certain of having a beautiful photo! These buildings, photographed in 1997, are among the most interesting and attractive of many in the town that date from the medieval period.
