Temple of Hercules Victor: The Oldest Building in Rome
The oldest building in Rome doesn’t call much attention to itself. For a culture which showed the world how to build big, it’s rather petite….
The oldest building in Rome doesn’t call much attention to itself. For a culture which showed the world how to build big, it’s rather petite….
Looking at Rome today, it’s easy to forget 1,000 years elapsed between the ancient Roman Empire and the city’s Baroque splendor. We’re often encouraged to think…
It’s easy to overdose on gilt, colored marble, and cherubs when visiting Baroque buildings in Rome. The Roman church used excessive ornamentation to impress the…
Roman bridges don’t get as much attention as their cousins the aqueducts and the arenas, perhaps because we still use them every day. Ancient Romans…
Most of us associate medieval European architecture with bare stone, limited colors, and above all, solemnity. The cathedrals of Siena and Orvieto are a delightful…
I’m not sure what to make of the Stendhal Syndrome. Dr. Graziella Magherini coined the term in 1979 after documenting over 100 cases of visitors to…
Most people associate Brunelleschi with his dome for Florence’s cathedral, perhaps the most iconic structure of the Renaissance. Not many realize that, with just a…
Once upon a time, two Tuscan city-states grew rich from trade. They used their wealth to build a slew of cathedrals, towers, piazzas, and palaces…