Photohunt - Sculptures

I've seen a lot of magnificent sculptures while traveling to different countries and here are some of my favourites.


Beautiful sculpture of Saint Reparata, a Christian virgin and martyr at the central portal of Florence Cathedral in Italy.



A spectacular waterfall that features human divers at Dubai Mall.



A wonderfully sculpted piece at the Hofburg Castle in Vienna. The 'Power at Sea' fountain symbolizes the power of the Habsburg Empire.


Delicately carved sculpture featuring three playful cherubs holding up a shield at the Field of Miracles in Pisa Italy.



And here's Lady Justice in Salzburg. The devil beneath her feet certainly looks like he needs a good stomping!

PhotoHunt

Wordless Wednesday - Memories of Santorini

Wordless Wednesday

Our World - Chess Anyone?

During my visit to Chapter Square in Salzburg, I spotted two men playing chess on this huge chessboard with people standing and sitting on benches watching them. It doesn’t cost anything to take part and you will always find someone who will be happy to challenge you.

Our World

Our World - Hofburg Palace in Vienna

Like many beautiful palaces across Europe, Austria also has its fair shares of palaces and I had the pleasure of visiting Belvedere Palace, Schonbrunn Palace and not to mention, the Hofburg Palace in the heart of Vienna.


The Hofburg Imperial Palace, which is currently the official residence for the Austrian Federal President, was once the palace for the Holy Roman Empire's ruler. I also discovered that the famous Hapsburg dynasty used the palace as their winter residence.

Museums within the Palace which have been preserved over the centuries consists of 18 wings, 19 courtyards, more than 2500 rooms and also several museums and collections, Imperial Library, riding school, horse stables and etc.


This particular section of the palace, is known as St Michael's wing. Due to limited time, we didn't manage to visit the interior of the building but it was rewarding taking a stroll around the surrounding area observing the architectural splendour and detailed sculptures up close. Based on the exterior decorations, I've to say that Belvedere remains my favourite palace in Vienna.



Here are some details of the Hofburg domes. The eagles sitting on top of the golden globe are a symbol of the Hapsburg dynasty which ruled over Austria.



The legend of Hercules is apparently a favourite of many, including the Hapsburg family. The southern entrance of Hofburg Palace is decorated with a series of totally awesome sculptures known as "The Labors of Hercules" by Lorenzo Matielli.



Here he's battling the mighty Cerberus, guardian of the Underworld!



As we walked around the palace, we came across a large monument dedicated to Emperor Francis I of Austria a.k.a. Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor. The imposing monument, surrounded by four other statues was created in the 18th century, by the Italian sculptor Pompeo Marchesi.



At a different corner, we came upon the convention center. It's interesting to see flags from all different countries, decorating the side of the Hofburg. Every year Hofburg is hosting about 300 to 350 events and among the events include conventions and meetings as well as banquets, trade fairs, concerts and balls.



This is Neue Burg section as seen from Heldenplatz where Hitler gave his speech after Germany invaded Austria.



Aside from the amazing history and beauty of the medieval architecture, there are also benches to sit and relax throughout the garden. A great spot for some peace and tranquility away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Our World

Wordless Wednesday - French Embassy in Vienna

Wordless Wednesday

Skywatch - Scenic countryside

A glimpse of Athens lovely countryside in late afternoon.



Skywatch Friday

Wordless Wednesday - Trevi Fountain, Rome

PhotoHunt - Empty, Water

Anyone who's been to Venice will recognize familiar scenes like these. Here are a few of my favourite collections.



A view of empty boats in the Grand canal with San Giorgio Maggiore in the background.



Rows of empty gondolas waiting for its passengers



And here at the Danish pavilion in Shanghai Expo, an interactive fountain where the walls of water rise and fall either trapping the people or allowing them to escape. If you're fast enough, it's still possible to get in and out of it while remaining perfectly dry. A cool spot to beat the heat and it's a battle between getting myself wet but NOT getting my camera wet.

Sandi's PhotoHunt

Gattina's PhotoHunting

OurWorld - Street scenes in Rome

When I travel to foreign places, I enjoy seeing what normal streets look like in other cities, behind the usual tourist attractions. Featured today is Rome, extremely rich in history and architectural beauty.



It's a great ancient city to explore and get lost in its charming narrow streets and alleys.


 
I had fun browsing through the stores for souvenirs.



Everywhere in the street corner is populated with lots of these vendors. It's interesting to observe people engaged in their daily routines.



 More often, you'll encounter many of this kind of artistic artwork throughout  Rome.



Here's one of the many lady beggars hoping for donation from kind strangers.



A bustling cafe in one of the city's remarkable piazzas.



 Some of the amazing buildings and endless rows of Roman columns built back then to glorify Rome and its empire.



Modern gladiators haunting the streets. For a fee tourists can get their picture taken with a costumed centurion.



And here's a large crowd of Romans and tourists gathering and relaxing while enjoying the cool evening breeze outside the Colosseum.

 Our World

Our World - St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna

When in Vienna, it will be hard to miss the St. Stephen's Cathedral which seems to dominate the skyline in all directions and can be seen peeking over the old town square from miles away. Also known as Stephansdom in German, it is one of the best illustration of late Austrian Gothic. It stands on the ruins of two earlier churches and and further enlarged over the course of several centuries from a typical Romanesque rectangular shape to a cathedral with a three-nave choir, sporting Gothic elements on the facade under the reign of Rudolf IV.



I also discovered that the cathedral has survived two Turkish sieges, religious wars, French bombs in the course of the Napoleonic wars and World War I without too serious damage. It was further hit by bombs at the later stages of World War two and repaired with the financial aid of all the provinces of Austria.



The cathedral is enormous, ornately designed and you definitely need a wide-angle lens to capture the entirety of the landscape. Although I was unable to fit everything into the shot, I like the way this photo turned out.




We spent some time wandering around the area, paying attention to the details of this exquisite place and it was always a thrill to see some horse drawn carriages on the streets. They are a common sight especially for tourists in the heart of Vienna due to its narrow, old time streets.



Here is a closer view of the north steeple of the cathedral. It houses the big Pummerin bell and a lookout terrace. We didn't manage to go up due to lack of time but I bet it offers magnificent views of the surrounding historic streets.



Standing guard near the entrance is the impressive monument of St John of Capistrano.



Aside from the beauty of the medieval architecture, this one in particular caught my attention. I was very amused by the scene above. It depicts a figure of Christ affectionately known to the Viennese as "Christ with a toothache" because of its agonized expression.



As we entered the building, I see numerous altars, gothic sculptures, icons and chapels peering out of the many corners within the imposing cathedral.



Here is one of the 18 impressive altars. I wish I remembered more in detail about this, but there was way too much to be taking in all at once just being there.



This is Pilgrams pulpit, peering out a half-open window.



If you look closely, you'll notice the handrail of the stairway beautifully decorated by interesting symbols: lizards and toads in front of each other, symbolizing the fight of light against darkness.




Equally majestic is the ornate carvings on pillars which I think adds greatly to the exceptional decor.

If you like ancient architecture, the grandeur of the edifice is really going to amaze you, not to mention that you will be taken aback by the impressive artworks which adorn the cathedral.