Located on the southeastern coast of Spain, Valencia is the country’s third-largest city and home to over 800,000 people. Over 2000 years, the city has had various rulers including the Romans, Moors, and the Kingdom of Aragon. The architecture of Valencia is incredibly diverse, with examples from different time periods including the Gothic Age, the Baroque Age, and the modern works of Santiago Calatrava.
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The Romans had an unquenchable thirst for freshwater. Roman bathhouses, latrines, and public fountains, all required an immense amount of water every day. Without aqueducts, none of these luxuries would have been available. With the first aqueduct completed in 312 BCE, the Romans expanded and improved on their designs over time, and created the many examples of Ancient Roman Aqueducts that we see today.
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Despite the diversity of buildings all over the world, the vast majority are all made from a shortlist of materials. Wood, brick, stone, metal, glass, and a handful of others, make up 99% of the buildings around us. It’s rather unconventional to build something from solid rock, but despite the immense challenges, many monumental examples of rock cut architecture exist around the world.
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The five centuries worth of Moorish Rule in the Iberian Peninsula left behind some of the greatest works of architecture found in Spain. The Moorish buildings of Spain are some of the only works of Islamic Architecture found in Europe, and they rival some of the great buildings found throughout the Middle East. Although Moorish rule in Spain wouldn’t last, the monuments built by the Moors are still some of Spain’s most iconic sites.
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Romanesque architecture and art was a form of design that borrowed extensively from Ancient Roman art and architecture and was used throughout Europe from 500-1200 CE.
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Visited by millions each year, Munich is an incredible city filled with amazing art, cuisine, culture, and architecture. Whether you go for the Oktoberfest, or during any other part of the year, Munich and its architecture are sure to please any traveler.
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The Byzantine Empire was one of the most powerful and influential empires in history. They can clearly be seen as a continuation of the once-mighty Roman Empire, and although not as well known as their Latin counterparts, the Byzantines still left their mark on history and on architecture.
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Budapest has one of the most complex histories of any European city. A diverse blending of cultures and rulers has left the city with many different styles of architecture. Several hardships and conflicts have left their mark on the buildings as well, but despite all of this Budapest remains one of the top destinations in Europe.
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I can’t think of any other city on earth that was founded the way Split, Croatia was. The historic core of the city is actually the remnants of the Palace of Diocletian. The modern street plan of the city still reflects the original walls, rooms, and hallways of the palace 1700 years later. Although there was a small settlement in the area before the palace was built called Spalatum, the vast majority of Split’s history from the days of the Roman Empire to about the 15th Century revolves completely around Diocletian’s Palace.
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For millennia, mankind has sought shelter behind forts, moats, towers, and walls. Up until the age of gunpowder, castles with their thick stone walls were the go-to way to create defensive positions. Unfortunately, after gunpowder and cannons, these marvels of the medieval world became obsolete, giving way to newer fortifications like the packed-earth wall and the star fort.
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Throughout history, bridges have been strategic, economic, and commercial lifelines within our cities. In the height of the middle ages, bridges made primarily of stone, were some of the grandest constructions that civilization could create. Stone bridges were built to last, many bridges that were built hundreds of years ago are still utilized today.
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Gladiatorial combat, executions, spectacles of man vs. beast – all things loved by the Roman People. What better place to view these crowd-pleasers, than within a Roman Amphitheater? The design is simple but revolutionary. So perfectly executed it is still used to this day. The basic idea is taking two half-circle theaters, pushing them together, and creating one semi-circular stadium. Even the ancient Latin word amphitheater translates to dual theater or double theater.
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It’s hard to find a city with a history as complicated and dynamic as Avignon. One of only two cities on earth that can claim to be the headquarters of the Catholic Church, the other being Rome. Avignon was a medieval center of art, learning, and architecture, but was still constantly overshadowed by greater rivals such as the Franks and the Holy Roman Empire. Throughout the centuries, it has remained a truly unique place. Today Avignon is the 45th largest city in France according to numbers from 2013, but despite its smaller size is still a top tourist destination.
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Spain is an incredibly eclectic and historic country. Its architecture has been shaped over centuries, by a host of different factions and rulers. The Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Habsburgs, and the Spaniards themselves have all left their mark on Spain’s magnificent cities. One common feature across just about every city and town in Spain, is a main public square. The biggest reason for this was by a royal decree from the Spanish Monarchs, stating that every city needed to have a centralized gathering space. This article will show some of the greatest examples of the typical Spanish plaza, with a simple rectangular plan enclosed by repetitive building facades with rhythmic window, balcony, and colonnade patterns.
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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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