Europe – Page 69 – TRAVEL WORDS

One Day One World Project: 17:00 to 18:00 hours

When I see something like this opposite where I am staying, it just cries out for me to investigate. Just who were these people?

At 5:30 in the evening, the rain had cleared and the sun encouraged us to go out and explore the little town that will be our home for the next week. And an open doorway to a cobbled wynd (a narrow street or alley in Scotland, especially between houses) …well could you resist?

Stained-glass artist and watercolourist E A Taylor and his wife, illustrator Jessie M King used to live here after their return from Paris at the outbreak of the First World War. (Both attended the Glasgow School of Art )

Kirkcudbright is known at ‘The Artists Town‘ having hosted generations of painters, craftmakers and artisans, a culture still thriving today.

And along with a cute and friendly tabby cat, I unexpectedly found this.

Lisa of the blog NorthWest Frame of Mind has decided to run a different project over the next 24 weeks. To try to show what is happening in different parts of the world (if you all join in) at a particular time of day.

If you would like to participate you have until next Saturday midnight to post a photo or write about what is happening in your part of the world between 17:00 – 18:00 this week. I hope you’ll join in! See links for more details.

After the rain…

After driving from the Lake District yesterday to Dumfries and Galloway in southern Scotland, we hit heavy rain. Settling down to watch the women’s final at Roland Garros, we resigned ourselves to the rest of the day indoors as we watched the mizzle turn to drizzle and people with umbrellas passed by.

But, unexpectedly, as Maria Sharapova took the crown yet again, the sun came out, so donning raincoats (just in case) and armed with cameras, we ventured out to explore our new surroundings.

and what a pretty place it is…

Valletta – The Fortress City

Valletta

“a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”

is Malta’s capital city: Valletta is named after its founder, the respected Grand Master of the Order of St. John, Jean Parisot de la Valette. Started in 1566, Valletta was completed, with its impressive bastions, forts and cathedral, in the astonishingly short time of 15 years. Today, it is one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world. (source)

(click an image to scroll through the gallery)

St Ursula street Valletta

lantana

Auberge de Castile

Fort St Elmo

Les Gavroches (street urchins)

Lower Barakka Gardens

Maltese Bus

Victoria – Republic Square

Valletta from the parade in Sliema

Pot plants

Upper Barakka Gardens

Valletta enclosed balconies

If you visit Malta take time to wander the streets of Valletta, you will find hidden gems around every corner. Look up to see statues, niches and interesting lanterns. Doors, windows and covered walkways and interesting door handles.

(click an image to scroll through the gallery)

Maltese Cross

Skull

Covered Passage

Door Handles

Look up!

Courtyard-at-Manoel-Teatro

Teatro Manoel

Courtyard of Grand Master’s Palace

If you love history, you will love Valletta.

U for Ursuline Monastery

frizztext hosts a weekly A – Z Challenge

Event Type: General Blogging

Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly

Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.

If you would like to join in then please click here

The Ursuline Monastery in Solvenia’s young capital, Ljubljana and the Holy Trinity Parish Church was commissioned by Jakob Schell von Schellenburg, a wealthy local merchant and financier, and his wife Ana Katarina. During the construction of the Trg republike square, the Monastery underwent a thorough reconstruction and its garden was completely destroyed.

Its undulating façade enhanced by semi-columns and a characteristic gable inspired by the famous Roman architect Francesco Borromini make it one of Ljubljana’s most beautiful and extraordinary example of Baroque architecture.

In front is the Holy Trinity Column erected in 1693 as a thanks offering for the city having been spared from the plague.

and given the number of windows in this beautiful building I am linking this to Dawn’s Lingering Windows Challenge.

T for Týn Church / Týnský chrám

frizztext hosts a weekly A – Z Challenge

Event Type: General Blogging

Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly

Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.

If you would like to join in then please click here

Back in Prague (the city of 101 spires apparently) this week for one of the most recognisable buildings in the Old Town, a Gothic church called ‘The Church of Our Lady in front of Týn‘

The current church is a late Gothic style and construction began in the 14th century. The roof, the 80m high church towers and the smaller spires were completed in the 15th century. It dominates one side of the Old Town Square. (Wikipedia)

The front is decorated with a golden image of the Virgin Mary, made in the 1620s from the melted down Hussite chalice that previously adorned the church. This was during the tumultuous period when Roman Catholics were slaughtering the Hussites who had controlled the church for two centuries.

And take a close look at the two spires on the church. They are not symmetrical. They represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world. This is characteristic of Gothic architecture of the period.

The church is difficult to picture in its entirety as it is hidden behind the four-storey Týn School, and although impressively Gothic on the outside it is heavily Baroque on the inside. It is open to the public, though closed on Mondays, and often used for mass, so check before you visit.

Entrance to the church can be difficult to find as you have to negotiate through the narrow lanes behind the square. This amazing portal dates from 1390 and depicts scenes of Christ’s Passion.

Legend has it that Walt Disney based his Sleeping Beauty Castle on this church. What do you think?