Architecture

Sunday, 10 May 2026
18 facts about Hagia Sophia
18 facts about Hagia Sophia
The most significant work of Byzantine architecture
The Hagia Sophia's Temple, now an Istanbul mosque, was initially built as the Church of Divine Wisdom. It was the highest-ranking temple in the Byzant ...

Did you know?

Empire State Building
There are two open to the public observation decks in the building.
The first is on the 86th floor, the second on the 102nd floor. More than 110 million visitors have visited the observation decks so far.
Statue of Liberty
In her left hand, Lady Liberty holds a plaque bearing the date of the United States Declaration of Independence.
The inscription of July 4, 1776, was written in Roman numerals - July IV, MDCCLXXVI.
Villa Tugendhat
An interesting element of the villa’s construction is a freestanding wall made of precious onyx marble (so-called “false onyx”).
“False onyx” is neither marble nor onyx. Such a term is applied to some limestones, referring to the ...
Big Ben
The decorative rims of the clock faces are gilded.
At the base of each shield is a Latin inscription meaning "O Lord, keep our Queen Victoria the First safe."
Colosseum
The last official games in the Colosseum with the participation of gladiators took place in 404 AD, and with the participation of animals in approximately 528 AD.
Unofficially, gladiatorial fights were fought until around 440 AD.
Krak des Chevaliers
The Hospitallers (Sovereign Military Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Rhodes, and Malta) expanded the castle and its fortifications.
The castle was expanded in the Gothic style. In the central part of the fortress, measuring 110 by 60 m, a church, a knights' hall, and several towers were built.
Statue of Liberty
In the Statue's outstretched right hand is placed a torch, the flame of which is made of 24 karat gold.
The torch represents enlightenment and reveals the path to freedom from darkness. Hence the official name of the monument: La Liberté éclairant le monde, meaning Freedom Enlightening the World.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The tower's construction was resumed in 1319 and extended to the belfry.
It was added around 1350 by Tommaso Pisano. He combined the Gothic elements of the pediment with the Romanesque decoration of the building's main part.
Mont Saint-Michel
The sanctuary of the Archangel Michael was built on the island. It occupies a small part of the territory of Mont Saint-Michel.
The original name of the sanctuary, used throughout the Middle Ages, was Mons Sancti Michaeli in periculo mari (St. Michael's Mountain in the Perilous Sea).
Christ The Redeemer
The first unveiling of the monument took place on October 12, 1931, by lighting designer Guglielmo Marconi.
He did it by turning on the lighting from a yacht moored in the port of Genoa.