Our “Cities” articles focus on one particular city and attempt to tell the story of how its architecture has evolved over time.
Brussels is a grand European capital with a dynamic history dating back to the Middle Ages. It’s home to a vast assortment of both historic and contemporary buildings. Brussels contains many incredible works of Gothic Architecture, and one of the most beautiful squares in the entire world, the Grand Place. Although Brussels has a very metropolitan feel, it’s still easy to find grandiose squares, quaint streets, and quiet cafes.
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Athens is truly one of the most unique cities on earth. It has been controlled by many factions, beginning with the Ancient Greeks and continuing with the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Ottomans. During the 19th century, Athens was reborn as the capital of an independent Greek Nation, marking a turning point in the city’s history. Today, Athens is one of the most visited cities on earth, and it is filled with countless works of architecture from every phase in its long, complex history.
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Budapest is an incredible and unique city. It was extremely important as the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary, and it is still vital today as the center of the Hungarian Nation. Budapest contains a vast assortment of impressive Revivalist Architecture, including many buildings that were constructed for the Hungarian Millennium Celebration of 1896. Budapest also contains a wide variety of Romanesque, Gothic, and Modern Architecture, which all blend together to create one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
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Dublin is an incredible city filled with many impressive works of architecture. Dublin has several notable Gothic and Romanesque buildings, dating back to the early Anglo-Norman period. The city also contains lots of 18th & 19th century buildings, dating from when Dublin was one of the most populous cities in the British Empire. After centuries of outside rule, Ireland gained its independence in 1921, and Dublin became the nation’s capital. Today, it is a bustling modern metropolis, filled with countless bars, restaurants, museums, and monuments.
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Home to the famous Oktoberfest, Munich is the capital of Bavaria and one of Germany’s architectural highlights. The city was a key component in the medieval Duchy of Bavaria and has roots dating back to the Romanesque and Gothic Ages. Munich also prospered throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods and would eventually become the capital of the independent Kingdom of Bavaria in 1806. Munich is an amazing city, filled with buildings from every major architectural age.
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Vienna is one of Europe’s most livable cities and one of the continent’s greatest places for Architectural History. Vienna contains buildings from every major architectural age, and all of these structures blend to create a truly unique city. The Ringstrasse on its own is an incredible site to see, and it pairs well with Vienna’s other notable sites such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace. Anyone who visits Vienna is sure to be amazed by its grand boulevards, pristine buildings, and elegant and artistic culture.
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Avignon is a remarkable city with a very unique history. Avignon reached its cultural and political peak during the period of the Avignon Papacy. The Popes would fill the city with many notable works of Gothic & Medieval Architecture. Avignon also prospered during the the 19th century, and it is home to a great variety of Neoclassical and Revival-style buildings. Avignon is not a particularly large city, but its abundance of impressive architecture makes it one of Southern France’s greatest destinations.
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Even if it only contained the incredible buildings of Antoni Gaudí and the Modernisme Movement, Barcelona would be one of the world’s top architectural destinations. But, Barcelona is about so much more. Within Barcelona, you have Roman monuments, Gothic Churches, the Eixample district, and all the modern improvements created for the ‘92 Olympics. This abundance of incredible buildings makes Barcelona one of the world’s greatest cities for Architectural History and any fan of good food, iconic architecture, and warm weather is sure to enjoy this incredible city.
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To me, Seville’s architectural significance is embodied in the Mudejar Style of Architecture. The whole concept, of a new style of Architecture forming itself from historic events, is the thing that makes Andalusia Spain, and Seville in particular, so magical. Everywhere you look, you can see in every stone, brick, and column, influences of the past rulers of this great city. From the Romans to the Moors, to the Spanish Empire, and on to modern Spain, Seville showcases all of these cultures and how they helped the city become the landmark it is today.
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Siena is a great example of a Tuscan Hill Town. Although similar to many other towns in the surrounding area, Siena stands out thanks to the many architectural sites within the historic center. The vast majority of the buildings are from the 12th to 17th centuries. It has one of the best preserved historic centers in all of Europe.
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Copenhagen is a city filled with history and impressive architecture. It’s one of the leading cities in Scandinavia, and it maintains a strong connection with its Viking Roots. Copenhagen has been the seat of the Kingdom of Denmark for over 600 years, and many different Danish Kings commissioned impressive structures throughout the city. Copenhagen contains a blend of Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical architecture, along with an abundance of new contemporary buildings. It’s a city with a strong past and a bright future, and anyone visiting Copenhagen is sure to be inspired by its historic buildings, its inviting people, and its laid-back Scandinavian Culture.
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Istanbul truly is one of the world’s greatest cities. It has a long and storied history, and many groups including the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the modern Republic of Turkey have all left their mark on the architecture of Istanbul. In addition to wonders like Süleymaniye and the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul is home to dozens of lesser-known but still significant buildings. Any fan of architecture is sure to enjoy Istanbul, and the city remains a crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures, as it has been for thousands of years.
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