Churches
The Parochial Church Of St Lorenzo in Tremezzo, LakeComo, Italy
I have been doing a certain number of architectural drawings lately, based mostly on photographs I have taken from around Europe (and beyond). I find myself often using photos of churches, which are interesting to sketch. Of course church buildings can be found in every hamlet and are, more often than not, the most impressively beautiful building in a town. It got me to thinking (as I occasionally do) of our collective history and how differently we in these modern days tend to see meaning and even time and space compared to our ancestors from just a few centuries ago. It is really only recently that most people don't believe in something beyond themselves which is worthy of praise and devotion. Men of the past manifested their reverence for their conception of the divine in complicated and beautiful constructions. I thank and praise these folks for all the splendor they have added to our world. Churches and other places of worship were always meant to uplift the human spirit, with towers soaring towards the heavens. Even if few of us seek the divine within their interiors, certainly their architecture is still inspiring. I thought I would share some images I have been working on for you to enjoy, appropriately, on this Sunday morning.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Paris, France
The sacred Heart Basilica in Montmartre, (hill of the martyrs) began construction in 1875, making it a relatively new church in Paris. It was built on the site where St. Denis was beheaded by the Romans. The reddish splotch on the right tower was caused by a balloon filled with red paint which was floated above the church and burst onto the dome. By now that has been cleaned off.
Church of St. Martin, Auxey Duresses, Côte d'Or, France
A humble but attractive church building nestled among the most celebrated vineyards of Burgundy lends this little community a sense of dignity and charm. Imagine the town without its church and all of a sudden there is not much to recommend it.
Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower, better known as the Duomo, Florence, Italy
One of the most beautiful and famous churches of all time is the Duomo in Florence, which took almost two hundred years to build. It was completed in 1436 when Brunelleschi (known as the father of Renaissance architecture) figured out a way to add the enormous dome, a feat of structural engineering. If you haven't read the book Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King (one of my all time favorite books), you've missed a really fascinating story.
Chiesa del Divo Martino, Portofino, Italy
I think my favorite location on earth is Portofino. I first visited there in 1964 when I was seventeen. I've been back twice since then. In 2016 Rick and I were there and took a walk up the hill behind the harbor and discovered a little church tucked into the mountainside.
The parish Church of Sainte-Agathe, Provence, Maillane, France
Last summer we visited our friends Chris and Chuck who had rented a beautiful house in Provence. One night we went out to dinner in a nearby town. The sun sets late and it was just becoming dark as we left the restaurant. The town lights had been lit including the steeple of the local church, making for a charming and warm ambiance.
Mont St. Michel Abbey, Normandy, France. Photo borrowed from: musement.com
Mont Saint Michel abbey is the second most visited site in France (Paris being the first). The first time we saw it from afar, it was like a wedding cake floating on a misty beach. I wish I had taken this photo, but I did not. Somewhat miraculously the abbey was constructed over one thousand years ago on a tidal island off the coast of northern France.
Basilica of Santa Croce, Puglia, Lecce, Italy
Our trip to Puglia in October introduced us to one of the most ornately carved church facades I have ever seen. It took over two centuries to build.
Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
The Hagia Sophia was originally built as a church. It's construction was finished in 537 AD and it remained a church for 900 years until the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453. For 500 years it was a mosque. In 1935 it became a museum and it is only since 2020 that it has again become a mosque.
St.Patrick's Church, Trim, County Meath, Ireland
In Ireland the church steeple of St. Patrick's reaches towards the heavens.
Montée Saint-Maurice, Angers,
Loire Valley,
France
The symmetry of this Loire Valley church makes for an attractive focal point in a residential neighborhood.
Los Remedios Church, Mijas Pueblo, Costa del Sol
,
Spain
On the Costa del Sol of Spain we stayed with a friend who lived in the beautiful white washed town of Mijas Pueblo. The church harmonized with the rest of the architecture.
Church of Saint Ronan, Locronan, Finistere, France
In Brittany where the buildings are often gray stone, we visited this little town where the spires, towers and curvaceous decorations made for a delightful sight.
Church of St. John the Baptist, Bohinj Lake
,
Ribčev Laz, Slovenia
In eastern Europe the churches look a little different, influenced more by the Eastern orthodox esthetic.
The ancient Sanctuary and Death Oracle of Poseidon Tenaros, Mani Peninsula, Greece
I leave you with this final image as a cautionary tale. Here Quinn and Zinnie are pulling Rick out from one of the passages to Hades, located in Greece. I don't know what Rick was thinking when he slipped into this space, but I'm glad help was at hand. If he had been in the local church instead of exploring the entrance to hell, this never would have happened.