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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