Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Mgiganteus1

Approach to the Tombs of the Kings

At first sight during my visit there appeared to be very little of interest to be seen, just a craggy outcrop of rocks, as the tombs are almost entirely underground.  It was only as I ventured around the side of the site that the detail of how it had been used became apparent.  It was amazing to think of these tombs being chiseled by hand from the soft limestone, and then completely excavated to form rectangular rooms with about three feet of thick rock above them as a ceiling.

A subterranean adventure

Seven of the eight tombs have been excavated, and I found them to be extremely well preserved.  Their overall design is quite unusual for this part of the world since, although they date from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, their architecture tends more towards Macedonian in style.  Some of the tombs were constructed to look like dwelling places for the living rather than burial sites for the dead.  It is possible to see fragments of the original frescoes, and the atriums (central courtyards) are largely intact, so that the overall structure – complete with porticos and columns – is clearly evident.

Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Romeparis

Getting around the site

To gain access to the underground tombs there are stone staircases leading downwards, although tomb number three has an additional wooden staircase that was installed during the excavation, making it easier to negotiate.  Great care is needed when descending into any of the tombs, as the stone steps are quite uneven.  The best time to visit is early morning before the heat of the day builds up, and it is sensible to wear comfortable shoes and take a hat and bottled water, as the site is quite large.  Touring the whole of it can easily take a minimum of two hours.

Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus by Romeparis

Getting to the Tombs of the Kings

There is a good bus service from Paphos city center to the Tombs of the Kings, and it is worth taking the bus, as the neighborhood around the site is a little shabby.  Admission prices are very reasonable and, along with cheap flight deals available to Paphos International Airport, I found a vacation in Cyprus to be both affordable and rewarding.  Besides the historic Tombs of the Kings, there are many other visitor attractions, including Aphrodite’s Rock, Coral Bay, the Adonis Baths Waterfalls and Kato Paphos Archaeological Park.

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Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

This has been the symbol of Catholic dominance in France. It is referred as the “Cathedral of the Nation” and its majestic medieval architecture still stands tall in Paris. It has been captured and features several times because of its dazzling sunset and morning images reflecting Seine.

Distinguishing Features

1. Gothic Style
2. Spiral Staircase
3. Intricate Gargoyles
4. Immortalized thanks to the Hunchback of Notre Dame Story
5. Grand view of Paris and Seine River

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France by Abir Anwar

Strasbourg Cathedral

This is named as the second highest cathedral in France. It was the fusion of several masters in action. The west area was created by Master Erwin of Steinbach, the north tower by Ulrich von Ensingen, while the openwork wire is the creation of Johannes Hoeltz. It needed almost two decades of completion including the interesting ornaments and statues.

Distinguishing Features

1. referred as the Temple of Reason
2. astrological clock made by Schwilgue
3. combined Romanesque and Gothic architecture
4. towering height of 142 meters that huddles with medieval houses

Strasbourg Cathedral, France by notfrancois

Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Nice is a beauty in itself, but the Russian Orthodox Cathedral will give you a glimpse of the strong connection between Nice and Russia during the early 20^th century. You will notice several Russians occasionally flying in to this place because of the direct flight from Moscow that is allowed at Nice Airport.

It may look like Disneyland because of its domes, but this is a religious architecture revered by many. Remember to dress appropriately if you do wish to explore it because strict dress code is implemented by management.

Distinguishing Feature

1. impressive Russian Orthodox architecture
2. five colored domed cupolas
3. hidden jewel in the greens of Nice
4. superb frescoes, paintings, and icons

Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Nice, France by Steve Cadman

The Cathedral of Rodez

Although this cathedral is less known, it is worth visiting during your stay in France. It is located in an old hill; its red hued sandstone can easily be spotted from afar. Your eyes will be captivated by the surrealism in the west façade, the main bell tower. There is still more discover when you decide to include it in your itinerary and there is no reason why you wouldn’t enjoy your stay.

Distinguishing Feature

1. unusual west façade featuring late gothic window juxtaposed the confection above
2. bizarre positioning of the main bell tower
3. elegant interior combined with medieval choir stalls, misericords, and carvings

The Cathedral of Rodez, France by B. Carlson

Cathedrals of today have been transformed into museums. Although some still hold religious ceremonies, its main appeal has been its arts and architectures. Enjoy your travel in France and find cheap deals that will help you save big time.

About the Author: Shaiya Ong is a freelance writer, philosopher, art appreciator, poet, and friend. She enjoys sharing her thoughts on numerous things in relation to www.frenchairportguide.com.

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From the fabulous Fountains Abbey in the north of the county to the mysterious Kirkstall Abbey in the west and Beverley Minster in the east – strangely there is no South Riding – the heritage of centuries survives here in all its glory, nestling amongst amazing scenery famed for its wonderful walking country.

Fountains Abbey by Joccay

World Heritage Site

The area around Fountains Abbey has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site, such is its beauty.

If the 12th century Cistercian Abbey itself isn’t enough, there’s the somewhat spooky Serpentine Tunnel, the Temple of Fame in the water gardens, and the Fountains Mill, which until the 1920s was a going concern and which now houses an interactive exhibition where visitors can have a go at grinding their own corn.

Rievaulx Abbey in the north of the country was the first abbey for the Cistercian monks in the north of England.

At its peak, Rievaulx housed 150 monks and another 500 lay brethren, but the Great Plague wiped out many, and by the time of the dissolution of the monasteries only 23 remained.

The new owner, the Earl of Rutland, destroyed much of the architecture, but what remains of the church, refectory and chapter house still makes a spectacular sight.

Kirkstall Abbey lies in the West Riding, just outside Leeds.

Set in stunning parkland along the banks of the River Aire, Kirkstall is an early example of monastic life, and today is one of the best preserved abbeys in the whole country.

Mount Grace Priory in the north is another of Yorkshire’s well-preserved pieces of ecclesiastic architecture, and is a prime example of a Carthusian monastery where the monks spent their time as virtual hermits – the foundations of 23 cells can still be seen and one has been reconstructed to show how the inhabitants might have lived in the 14th century.

Most Beautiful Building in Yorkshire

Beverley Minster in the east was originally founded as a monastery well over a thousand years ago, and the church that remains today dates from the 13th and 14th centuries.

Rich in sculptures and carvings as well as history, Beverley is a cathedral in every aspect – except in status. Yorkshire historian and author J.E. Morris described it nearly 100 years ago as “the most beautiful building in Yorkshire.”

The spectacular ruins of Whitby Abbey in the North Riding were used as a backdrop for parts of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

This is one of the most atmospheric ruins anywhere, overlooking the brooding North Sea above the town.

Whitby Abbey by Mrs Logic

Nicki Williams writes for Gear-Zone, specialists in outdoor clothing and walking footwear, where you’ll find all the top brands including Rab, The North Face, Berghaus, Scarpa, Merrell and Brasher.

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However already in the 5th century there was a Christian church standing on this place. During the Ottoman Empire domination, monastery (with church) was dissolved and overgrown with weeds. Just at the end of the 19th century it was discovered by two Czech archaeologists – Škorpil brothers.

Monks cells were carved into the limestone rocks and connected by corridors which create a three-storey complex. There were also kitchens, dining rooms, prayer rooms, simply everything what monks needed for their life. They lived here in celibacy and create their own world, away from civilization, so they could devote prayer and spiritual development.

The entire monastery was completely self-sufficient. With the surrounding monasteries the monks communicated by ringing the bell. Today you can ring on it during your visit. It is interesting that during the archaeological research of graves in the vicinity of the monastery, were found around 5 kg of gold objects. These historic gems can be seen in the Museum of Natural History in Varna.

In the forest park below the monastery is a small museum, where you can further see the Roman mosaics, Orthodox icons, photos, and models and drawings of the original appearance of the monastery. About 500 metres from the monastery (still in paid section) are other caves named as the catacombs.

Aladzha Monastery can be reached from Golden Sands or St. Constantine, both on foot or by taxi. The Varna is probably best to go either by bus to Golden Sands and the intersection before the golden sands. From there it is on the road about a mile up the hill. Serpentine is an interesting twist around a ravine with a stream.

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Florence Cathedral is the fourth largest in Europe. Its construction started in 1296 by architect Arnolfo di Cambio. The main task of the architect was to create a huge cathedral, which size would express the growing importance of Florence, and overshadow the cathedrals in the competing cities, such as Siena and Pisa. Finally, there was built a huge, 106 meter high building that really can not be overlooked. Moreover, it is complemented by the largest dome since antiquity period. This masterpiece of medieval architecture was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi. The dedication of the cathedral was in 1436. The original facade, of which only a quarter was completed by Arnolfo di Cambio was removed in 1587. The present appearance dates back to 1887, when the Florence Cathedral got the colourful Neo-Gothic facade.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Ed Webster

Rich outdoor decor contrasts markedly with, at first sight, a simple interior. The building is so obvious that the main aim of the architects was the size. However, if you look carefully, you discover a surprising number of art treasures. One of them is the crypt, where can be seen remains of the former church of Santa Reparata, and the dome, which is a masterful architectural work of Brunelleschi, and which offers a beautiful view of Florence.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Ed Webster

In Florence Cathedral you can also admire great paintings. On the left side you can see such as Dante and the Divine Comedy by Domenico di Micheli, equestrian portraits of Sir John Hawkwood by Paolo Uccello or Niccolo da Tolentino by Andrea del Castagno.

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The real treasures of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore include two sacristy. Sacrestia Nuova, which is the work of Michelozzo and Luca della Robbia, is paneled with wood and protected by a bronze gate. Above the entrance is a blue and white terra-cotta roundels from 1442 also by Luca della Robbia. By contrast, there is Sacrestia Vecchia, which is adorned with a similar roundels from the same artist. Between those two sacristies is the central apse, which houses the magnificent bronze reliquary in which are deposited the remains of the first bishop of Florence, Saint Zenobius.

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The most striking feature is the unusual dome’s roof with 135 towers and innumerable statues and gargoyles. In clear weather you can see the Alps with the Matterhorn from the towers. For the lovers of Gothic architecture, the Duomo is a masterpiece of perfectly made ​​decorations.

Cathedral windows dating from the 15th century, are among the largest in Europe. In the nave, near the entrance, you can see the largest sundial in the world (dating back to 1786).

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jiuguang Wang

Milan Cathedral is considered to be one of the most popular buildings in the whole European continent. It is also known to be the largest cathedral of all cathedrals in Italy and the second largest one in Europe (just after Seville Cathedral). It consists of five naves, which supports 52 columns. The highest point of the cathedral is La Madonnina (the statue of the Virgin Mary) from the 18th century, which is now the symbol of Milan.

The project of cathedral was meant to help all those who are helpless and ordinary people who are suffering or suffered under the ruling of tyrant Bernabò. During the construction of this cathedral a large amount of donations were collected from people and soon the news of construction spread with the people.

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The Winchester Cathedral is considered to be the worship place for Christians on the present cathedral for more than two millennia. According to the research on history of this church, the building was built on the same place already in AD 169, when Lucius, king of the Britons, was converted to Christianity. As per these evidences the Winchester Cathedral is measured to be far older cathedral than the Canterbury.

It is found that the church has been destroyed several times and have been rebuilt the same number of times. The most popular bishop of the Winchester cathedral was St. Swithin. He was considered to be named as the bishop of Winchester cathedral in the early 852 and was very popular for his services to the poor and helpless in the name of humanity. There is also not a lot of information about him to be known. The present-day building of Winchester cathedral was built in the year 1079 in the Baroque style.

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The cathedral rises on a Ludgate Hill, offering a beautiful view not only of the roofs of surrounding houses, but also on the nearby River Thames. The place where the cathedral stands, belonged to the church purposes from time immemorial, and so St. Paul’s Cathedral is the fifth church that was built here. The first wooden church has already been here in the 7th century. However it took many centuries until the present cathedral was built here. The former buildings were destroyed especially by numerous fires. Churches have always been newly refurbished and underwent many modifications, especially during the Middle Ages.

The worst time in the history of the cathedral was the September 2nd, 1666, during London’s Great Fire, when the four fifths of the former metropolis were completely destroyed, including the cathedral.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Steve Cadman

The creation of a new model of church is credited with one of the greatest masters of that time – Sir Christopher Wren. Construction started in 1675 and was completed many years later – in 1710. Once the cathedral was completed, it was the third longest church in Europe with a length of 181m, and boasted a 149 m high tower.

Today, St. Paul’s Cathedral is the most beautiful old building in London, still used for regular worship, but also to the extraordinary and monitored events worldwide. In 1965 it became the scene of the funeral of Prime Minister and Nobel Prize winner for literature, Sir Winston Churchill, who is considered one of the leading statesmen of the 20th century. His funeral was at the same time the show of the world political figures, which has been overcome by the funeral of Pope John Paul II. in 2005. In July 1981, the cathedral was a place of the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles.

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Cathedral impresses every visitor especially its western facade, which is well-illuminated in the evening. The cathedral is heavily decorated with numerous architectural features. The most richly decorated part is the altar area, where you can see spectacular, sophisticated gilded mosaics with images of birds, fish, animals and nature. In the south aisle of the cathedral there is a unique and even the only completely preserved statue from the old St. Paul’s Cathedral. The statue is a portrait of the poet John Donne, who was a preacher and Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral.

The cathedral is easily accessible by subway Central.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Sebastian Bergmann

The church was built on the site, where according to legend, was St. Peter sentenced to death, 400 years before. At that time, the Emperor Nero, persecuted all Christians. The people started to build a church originally only as a place where they could store “Vincoli” – the chains that St. Peter was bound with in Jerusalem.

But much more attractive relics in the church is a monumental statue of Moses situated at the end of the right side of the aisle. Michelangelo was supposed to create a total of 42 sculptures for the tomb of Pope Claire II., but finally only one statue was completed. The pope gave Michelangelo also another work in the Sistine Chapel, so he didn’t have much time to complete his tomb. After his death, no one had an interest in wasting money for the celebration, so Michelangelo decided to create at least the first sculpture as a powerful and soulful figure of Moses. And this is how one of Michelangelo’s greatest masterpieces grew up.

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Basilica San Pietro in Vincoli is located in the centre of Rome, just few steps from Colosseum. Walk up the hill towards the park and you are there. However this church is not in every city guide, you certainly should not miss this great piece of art. If you will be stressed from all those crowds, this is the best place you can relax.

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The church was founded in 1099 over the alleged tomb of Emperor Nero. This place was chosen in order to sanctify this place which was defiled by the pagan tyrant. For many years, allegedly haunted spirit of the emperor in the form of ravens.

Its recent appearance the church finally received during reconstruction works in the 16th and 17th century, which involved architects Bramante and Bernini. The church has elements from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The interior is decorated with the works of prominent artists of this time – Caravaggio, Raphael and many others.

Inside there are chapels of many well-known families. The most precious treasure within the church is the Capella Chigi of 1513, which was ordered at Raphael by banker of Siena Agostino Chigi. Its interior is decorated by altar painting “Birth of the Virgin Mary” by Sebastian del Piombo, and sculptures by Bernini and Lorenzetti.

Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli (photo by admin)

You can see also other masterpieces here such as paintings by Caravaggio, frescoes by Pinturicchio located behind the main altar or two tombs by Andrea da Sansovino in the presbytery.

In the church of Santa Maria del Popolo are hidden additional beautiful chapels, for example the Cappella della Rovere or Cappella Ceraso with the paintings by Caravaggio. Stained glass windows in the church are one of the oldest in Rome.

Porta del Popolo (photo by admin)

Piazza del Popolo was designed by Valadier at the beginning of the 9th century and today is considered one of the best urbanistic solutions in the city. In the middle of this great area is the second largest Roman obelisk, brought here by the emperor Augustus and placed at the local fountain. In addition to the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, there are two other churches at the square – Santa Maria di Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli. Another characteristic feature of this large square is the Porta del Popolo, which used to be the most important approach to Rome.

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