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The Church of Our Lady of the Pillar is near the River Ebro in the province of Zaragoza, west of Barcelona on the coast of Spain. It is reputed to be the first Church dedicated to Mary in history. The location is considered the birthplace of Christianity in Spain and has been the destination of pilgrims for hundreds of years.

The architecture is of baroque style, and the present building was predominantly built between 1681 and 1872. Zaragoza is some Islamic architectural influence which means there are more mosaics and more colors.

The statue and pillar have been preserved however for almost 2000 years. Numerous healings throughout the ages have been attributed to the Virgin by those visiting the site seeking her help.

According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared miraculously to Saint James the Great in the 1st century, standing on a pillar.This legend is commemorated by a famous Catholic basilica called Nuestra Señora del Pilar (”Our Lady of the Pillar”). Her feast day is also celebrated every 12th of October.
For centuries, rivers of pilgrims have continued to visit the Shrine of Saragossa.

Ruins, museums, churches, mansions and a wide variety of architecture, besides being the gateway to Machu Picchu, make Cusco a showcase that exhibits all the cultures and periods of our country: pre-Inca, Inca, Colonial and Republican. Cusco is a memorable destination, full of history and culture. A city with a splendid inheritance and compulsory destination for all who visit our country.

Cusco, was the biggest city and capital of the Inca Empire “Tahuantisuyo” (that reach great part of Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile) and then taken by the Spanish conquerors. Today it has an architecture that fuses the Inca with the Spanish style. Their town conserves with pride its customs and traditions. It is also the forced step to know the mystic and enigmatic sacred citadel of the Inca Machu Picchu that the Spaniards never knew and was discovered by the occidental culture in 1911. Cusco, as well as Machu Picchu, for its historical value, and for its beauty is considered Cultural World Heritage Sites. The Sacred Valley of the Incas and beautiful places are waiting for you!

The city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, was placed on the World Cultural Heritage List by UNESCO in 1983, and is without a doubt one of the most important destinations in Peru. There are Inca buildings waiting for you to discover them among its cobble-stoned streets, ones like the Koricancha and the palace of Inca Roca as well as Andean Baroque structures from the Colonial Period like the Cathedral and the Church of the Company of Christ. In addition, you can visit the picturesque neighborhood of San Blas where the best artisans in the department have set up their workshops. This magical city also has an exciting nightlife with cafes, restaurants, and bars for all tastes. Just ten minutes away from the city, there are the massive walls of the Sacsayhuaman fortress, and a few kilometers from there, you find the archaeological sites of Qenko, Pukapukara, and Tambomachay, Inca buildings constructed completely with stone.

SAQSAYWAMAN – Located 2km from the city. Together with the city of Cusco, this monumental complex is considered the first of the new seven wonders of the world. This huge construction was planned and built by Andean Man. The Incas called it the House of the Sun and the Spaniards called it a fortress because of its zig-zag shape and the 1536 revolution. The construction, which is made up of three platforms one on top of the other, was one of the most important religious complexes of its time.

Cusco has it all: art, magic, mystery and all the beauty you’d expect in the legendary “belly button” of the world. The Cusco region offers breathtaking natural views: the city’s streets and squares, the magical majesty of the Inca monuments and the elegance of the colonial constructions illuminated by a blue sky with white clouds which frame the six hills surrounding the city. Cusco is very well connected and you can travel safely to the most important places of the ancient Inca Empire.

Borgund has become famous as the Norwegian stave church par excellence and for that reason has also been used to symbolise Norway in many contexts – from T-shirts and mugs to postage stamps and banknotes. The church site shows evidence of a previous building, which can point to an earlier church or perhaps an old pagan temple that had been taken into use as a church. The interior of the church, except for the pulpit and the altarpiece, is mainly free from the post-Reformation decorations seen in most other stave churches. An authentic medieval square shaped baptismal font made of soapstone is still a part of the interior. Only 28 of these churches remain today.

The single nave church has a square nave and a narrower square choir. This type of stave church was common at the beginning of the 12th century. Church, (Langkirke), has a rectangular plan with nave and choir of the same width. The nave will usually take up two thirds of the whole length. This type was common at the end of 13th century. Center post church, (Midtmastkirke) has a single central post reaching all the way up and connected with the roof construction. But the roof is a simple hipped one, without the raised central part of the Type B churches. This variation on the common type of church in Numedal and Hallingdal, dated to around 1200.

Laerdal in Sogn. Built just before 1150, and dedicated to the Apostle St. Andrew. It is one of the best preserved stave churches and it has not been added or rebuilt since it was new. The pulpit is from the last period of the 1500’s. The altar-piece is from 1620.
Norway is in fact the only country in northern Europe with wooden churches from the Middle Ages still intact. Urnes is the oldest of them. It was built early in the 1100’s and is on UNESCO World Heritage List. The stave church at Heddal is the largest, though the one at Borgund is probably the most widely visited and photographed. Each stave church has its own charm and atmosphere. Though a stave church can seem simple on the outside, the inside reveals surprising richness of ornamentation.

The Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady is a masterpiece of lace work in stone. Begun in 1352, it is one of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe. The church, which became a cathedral in 1559 replaced a Romanesque church built in the 12th century. The last vestiges of that church were demolished in 1481. It contains a number of significant works by painter, Rubens. Its spire is 123 m high. This portal features statues which include the missionary Saint Willibrordus. He is thought to have spent time in Antwerp in the 7th century.The Church of Our Lady and St Philip was the gift of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk. The architect was Joseph Hansom, widely known as the inventor of the Hansom Cab. The style of the Cathedral is French Gothic about 1400.

The Cathedral serves as a “model Church for all Parish Churches” in the style and content of its liturgical celebrations. In design, art and furnishings, the Cathedral is rich in cultural diversity in a city in which Sunday Mass is celebrated in 42 different languages. It also tells a story of glory and prosperity – and even more so one of sorrow and disaster. This is the story of people who built dreams, people who expressed their allegiance to God and their fellow men. For over a thousand years, Mary has been the patroness of this Cathedral and of the city of Antwerp; each year thousands of people come and express their love and sorrow to Mary. This church is much more than just a museum filled with valuable treasures, it is still an active place of worship.
Despite all the plundering, major art treasuries have survived. The most notable are three large paintings by Rubens: Descent from the Cross (1612), Elevation of the Cross (1610) and the Resurrection Triptych (1612). There are many more notable objects inside like altars, confessionals, statues and the pulpit. The main relic that survived the middle ages is the bronze tomb of Isabella of Bourbo The Cathedral is also adorned with 34 huge stained windows.

“The patron of this project is not in a hurry”. Gaudí.

The history of the Temple de la Sagrada Família is the history of a lifetime built stone after stone. Discover here its evolution, from its birth, childhood and youth, until the maturity of the present time. Sagrada Família is the unfinished and most expensive project by Antoni Gaudí, the great architect. This unique exhibit includes plans, drawings, photographs and models related to the construction of the temple, and pieces made from wrought iron, bronze and wood as well. Visitors can also see how the temple was devised and its origins. The museum is located in the crypt of the basilica and you enter from the side of the Passió façade (Carrer Sardenya). There is also a lift that takes visitors to one of the towers, from which there is an excellent view over this unfinished though magnificent construction. Admission:(EUR 9); groups, pensioners & students:(EUR 7); schools:(EUR 2); children under 10: free; guided tours (11.30am-1pm Mon-Fri):(EUR 3); lift: (EUR 1).

Seville is one of the largest historical centres in Europe. Seville is the artistic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It has the cathedral which is one of the largest in Christendom. Part of treasure in Seville include Casa de Pilatos, Torre del Oro, the Town Hall, Archive of the Indies, the Fine Arts Museum – the second largest picture gallery in Spain. Seville is the Capital of Andalusia, region famous for its bullfighters, Flamenco dancers and singers. This town inspired Mozart, Rossini and Bizet — operas like: “El Barbero de Sevilla”, Carmen.

Seville presently has theatres and cultural centers that has permitted the Andalusian capital to enter in a circuit of international theatre, opera and orchestra companies. Programming includes influences such as classical and temporary theater, jazz, rock and flamenco. FLAMENCO represents the purest Andalusian expression of folklore. Its origins, still disputed, are linked to the arrival of gypsies during the 14th C. Tourists in Seville can enjoy daily performances of this art form in flamenco club enthusiasts or village festivals.
Seville has an important monumental and artistic heritage whose buildings which includes palaces, government buildings, private palaces and universities. Amongst religious architecture, Seville is one the cities with the largest number of churches and convents. During two important World Fair’s (1929 and Expo ‘92), these artistic landmarks increased in numbers beautifying even further the city. There are also highlight various museums, buildings of great relevance, and bridges that are so characteristic of Seville.
The city’s cathedral was built from 1401–1519 after the Reconquista on the former site of the city’s mosque. It is the largest of all medieval and Gothic cathedrals. The Torre del Oro was built by the Almohad dynasty as watchtower and defensive barrier on the river. A chain was strung through the water from the base of the tower to prevent boats from traveling into the river port.When you visit this city, you are in the very heart of Andalusian culture, the center of bullfighting and Flamenco music. Take yourself time and take life easy, as Andalusian use to do, and interrupt sightseeing from time to time to have a few “tapas”, those typical “small Spanish dishes”, and a glass of Sherry wine in one of the probably thousands of bars in this city, and consider a few of the hints on the following pages to make your stay a memorable one.

Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia. The city of Sucre is also known as the City of Four Names, being those names La Plata, Charcas, Ciudad Blanca (White City), and Sucre. Founded as Chuquisaca in 1538, the city received its present name in 1840, in honor of the first Bolivian president, Antonio José de Sucre. In 1809 Sucre became one of the first cities in South America to revolt against Spanish rule. On December 13, 1991 UNESCO declared the Historic City of Sucre a “World Heritage Site” in recognition of its rich history and its wealth of colonial architecture. The city attracts thousands of tourists every year thanks to its well-conserved downtown with buildings from the 18th and 19th century. Its many well-preserved 16th-century religious buildings illustrate the blending of local architectural traditions with styles imported from Europe. Population is 247,300 in 2006.

Sucre is the gateway to numerous small villages that date from the colonial era. The most well-known of which is Tarabuco – home of the colourful “Pujllay” festival held each March. In these outlying villages, one is as likely to find a descendant of the Spanish conquest as members of an indigenous group that still dress in their unique native clothing they use not only to preserve their cultural identity but also to let others instantly know what town or region they are from.
Sucre shares capital city status with La Paz, the legislative and administrative capital. Sucre is also a university city, with many cultural attractions, museums, shops, restaurants. San Francisco Xavier university was founded in 1625, one of the oldest universities in the Americas, and specializes in law. Relatively small, Sucre is an easily walkable city and the older sections, with the white colonial buildings with their distinctive red-tiled roofs and distinctive balconies offer nooks and crannies to explore.
The sights of the town are: Casa de la livertad РHouse located on the main plaza, where the declaration of independence of Bolivia was signed on august 6th, 1825. Portraits of presidents, military decorations, and documents are displayed. Palacio de la Glorieta- Formerly an outstanding palace owned by the wealthy entrepreneur Don Francisco de Argando̱a, it now serves as a military school. Museo de la Recoleta Рestablished by the Franciscan Order in the early 16th century. This placed served as a convent, barracks, prison, and museum. Displays anonymous paintings from the 16th to 20th centuries.

Churches which are located in Sucre: The Cathedral, begun in 1551, this is the most complex pf the colonial religious buildings with Renaissance, Baroque and “Mestizo Baroque” features. Specially remarkable are the mayor altar and the dome crowned by the cross of Carabuco; Chapel of the Virgen de Guadalupe – Built in 1617 is next to the Cathedral and honors the Virgen with a jewel-covered image painted by Fray Diego de Ocaña. San Francisco , begun in 1577, is honored for the “bell of freedom” calling Sucre’s citizens to revolt on May 25th, 1809; Santa Barbara – unique Renaissance church constructed in 1887; LaMerced , San Miguel and Santo Domingo; Santa Mónica; San Lázaro, begun in 1544 is the oldest church of the Audiencia de ChDuring your Bolivia travel, allow yourself a day for the opportunity to wander into the numerous museums after reflect on their role in the diverse and fascinating past of this old world city.

La Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic basilica under construction in Barcelona, Spain. La Sagrada Familia is one of Gaudi’s most famous works in Barcelona and one of Barcelona’s most characteristic buildings. Antoni Gaudí worked on the project for over 40 years. The first stone was placed on 1882, on the festival of St. Joseph. After Gaudi’s death in 1926, work continued under the direction of Dominick Sugranyes until interrupted by the Spanish Civil War in 1935.When you visit the building you will see the contrast in the stone colour between the front and back of the building. The building is still under construction so be prepared to see a lot of work continuing when you visit. However this in itself is interesting, especially if you visit the museum inside the building.
The three portals of this facade are related to the Christian themes of faith, hope, and charity. The pinnacles at the tops of the towers are decorated with colorful mosaics with various textures. High up on the Nativity facade a spire with a cypress tree symbolizes the tree of life. A pelican at the foot of the tree symbolizes the Host and angels at the bottom hold chalices. At the top of the tree stands for God. A dove at the top with outspread wings represents the Holy Spirit. The three persons of the Trinity are represented at the top of the tree of life.

Currently construction is mainly focusing on the nave and the main southern facade known as the Glory Facade. This facade will picture life and death of men. A total of 18 tall towers are called for, representing in ascending order of height the twelve Apostles. The Evangelists’ towers will be surmounted by sculptures of their traditional symbols: a bull, an angel, an eagle and a lion. Another four towers represent the 4 evangelists. The last tower above the Nativity scene in the central section are the incarnation when the Word was made flesh and a scene in heaven when Jesus crowns Mary queen of Heaven. They are so strange that they inspire only looking; one becomes dumb before them. La Sadrada Familia will be able to accommodate 13,000 people. A lift and a long walk will lead you to the top of a tower from where you have a magnificent view over Barcelona. From this level the works a bird’s-eye view can be seen on the works.

Height stone fence separate the church of world renown from our noisy and vain world. Cross a doorstep to big Porter falling among in one other time, sinking into oblivion in the thick of wood to the large park. Hard wooden door with a iron repose cover lead to interior a church. In front of look open up originally facade.
A monument of medieval Bulgarian architecture and the art of church mural painting. The building comprises three parts. The eastern part, which is the oldest one, was built in the 11th century. The frescoes in Boyana Church date from three different epochs, the 11th, the13th and the 14th-15th century. It has become famous for the great artistic value of the frescoes of 1259. The frescoes are among the most valuable works of medieval European painting for their vivid use of Renaissance techniques and motifs. The oldest church is a to storey, built in the end of 10th century. It’s widened thought the 13th century at the time of Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Amazing art value have a world famous wall-paintings-240 numbers to medieval painters(“Boyanian Master”).
Boyana Church is located 8km from Sofia at the foot of the mountain Vitosha, in the sofian quarter Boyana. It’s one of little totally reserved monuments reached ours days, witness for important contribution to Bulgarian monument art in European culturally space.

Seventy kilometers from the city of Loja in the mountains of southern Ecuador is the town of El Cisne, the site of a much venerated Marian shrine. The basilica of El Cisne was built in 1742 and modeled after a similar basilica in Harlungenberg, Germany. In 1594, the inhabitants of the El Cisne region had desired their own religious relic, similar to the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Representatives of the local people traveled to the capital city Quito, where they requested the sculptor Don Diego de Robles to create the Virgin de El Cisne statue. History tells us that those who had ordered the image couldn’t or wouldn’t pay the sculptor for it, and he traded it to the “oyacachi” Indians for some large cedar boards he needed. At a later time, popular fancy enriched the facts with the legend that the Virgin had appeared earlier to the Indians in a cave and had promised to deliver them from the dangerous bears which devoured the children. Our Lady of Quinche is almost entirely “a people’s Madonna,” a protector of the Indians. The image is a fine carving in cedarwood, measuring 62 centimeters in height. The handsome sculpture is hidden by large brocade garments, covered with jewels and embroidered with gold and silver threads, which only allow the serene dark face to be seen. The virgin of Quinche is credited with many miracles and the Indians ask varied favors through her intercession. But their relations toward her are of an extraordinary intimacy. We have seen many instances of people asking Mary for protection. The Indians of Quinche are no exception, but they in turn display a rare sensitivity of emotion. High in the Andes Mountains, these Indians offer their protection to the Little One who is their delicate beloved. In late November every year, thousands of people walk down the Quito valley to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Quinche. They carry torches or pocket lamps and tell stories of miracle healings. Throughout Ecuador there are many other shrines where people come to pray for a sick person or to give thanks for health and prosperity.

Other pilgrimage shrines in Ecuador are:

* The Sanctuary of the Grotto of the Virgin of the Rocio in Canar
* The Grotto of La Paz in Carchi
* Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Charity in Carchi
* Sanctuary of the Water Virgin Santa in Tungurahua
* Sanctuary of the Virgin of Huayco in Bolivar
* Church The Swan in Loja
* Pilgrimage church of El Cisne, Ecuador

With its huge dome and immense dimensions, Hagia Sophia was a surpassed. Sinan accomplished this difficult task. He reached to an excellence far-surpassed Hagia Sophia’s heavy monumentality (see Suleymaniye and Selimiye Mosques). The achievement of Anthemios real challenge for the Ottoman architects. It was an inspiration source and also a representative of a conquered culture, which was to be and Isidoros was the placement of a huge dome (32.5 m.) over an oblong basilica. Entrance vestibules (narthex) lead to a breathtaking central space. Four exedrae, apse and two semidomes on the east and west, the gallery arcades on the north and south, and the dome above circumscribe this lofty space. Four huge pillars and bulky buttresses attached to them on the outside support the dome. The use of a basilica that stretch below the dome with narthexes, a nave, aisles and galleries causes the fragmentation of the interior space. Aside the nave, the components of this basilica are dark and secondary spaces without direct interrelationship with the domed central piece. However, the building is really imposing from the centre. Its dome is like a shell soaring in the sky. The windows at its edges (clerestory windows) and the enormous height and width of the dome create this impression. The dome of Hagia Sophia substantiates a cosmological notion: heavenly dome. It is configurated as a disjunct segment of the structure. Together with all other subsidiary sections attached to the nave it participates in the “detached space” of the building. Contrastingly, the dome of a monumental Ottoman mosque limits and fixes an interior space. It is an inseparable part of the architectural composition. Unlike the dome of Hagia Sophia, Ottoman dome intermingles with the lower structure. Sinan’s Selimiye is a very good example to illustrate this. In Sinan’s structures, the subsidiary spaces are diminished and amalgamated to the central space. Even in Suleymaniye, which is the closest mosque to Hagia Sophia, the fragmented space understanding is suppressed (see Suleymaniye Mosque). It is erroneous to say that classical Ottoman mosques copied Hagia Sophia. But, it is true to say that Hagia Sophia’s monumentality was a source of inspiration. Hagia Sophia is a summation of Roman and Early Christian architecture in a huge scale. There are also some decorative elements borrowed from Sassanian art. But, its architecture is essentially Roman in style. Ottoman architecture of the sixteenth century created a style of its own, which is called “classical”. The Ottoman architect of this period employed almost every architectural and decorative element flourished in the lands along the Mediterranean Sea. His main sources were Roman, Early Islamic, Seljukid and early Ottoman inventions. The architects of Hagia Sophia and Ottoman Classical mosques had distinct aspirations, which helped the accomplishment of two different types of monumentality. Therefore, in a single city, we have an unbelievably rich heritage of local traditions expressed in such gigantic dimensions.