Architecture

Friday, 10 April 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?

Temple of Artemis
In 268 AD, an East Germanic tribe called Goths raided the city of Ephesus and severely damaged the third temple.
It is unknown how big the destruction of the temple after the Goths' invasion was. It unquestionably has been repaired after the 268 damage but never restored to its breathtaking original form.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao took four years to build.
The building is seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape. It was built on a 32.500-square-mete ...
Windsor Castle
King Edward VIII did not spend much time at Windsor Castle.
His reign was short and in December 1936 he broadcast his abdication speech to the British Empire fr ...
Trevi Fountain
It is supplied with water by an aqueduct built in 19 BC.
Balmoral Castle
Two mounds were built on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.
In the village of Ballater (in Aberdeenshire, on the River Dee), 60 stones were laid, one for each y ...
Notre-Dame
Notre-Dame has had two spires in its history.
The first was erected in the 13th century and towered over Paris until the late 18th century. Another was built in the 19th century and collapsed during the Notre-Dame fire in April 2019.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal minarets lean slightly outwards.
The main reason was that in case of an earthquake, they would not fall on the mausoleum. The lean also creates an optical illusion, making the Taj Mahal look bigger from a distance.
Neuschwanstein Castle
In 2002, fragments of a meteorite fell to earth near Neuschwanstein.
They were catalogued under the name of the castle.
Temple of Artemis
The second temple was made with Ionic order and had 117 columns.
Columns, frieze and tympanum were ornately sculpted. Famous ancient sculptors such as Phidias, Polykleitos and Kresilas worked on constructing and completing the temple.
Schönbrunn Palace
Between 1638 and 1643, a palace was built as the residence of Eleonora Gonzaga.
Eleonora Gonzaga was the second wife of Emperor Ferdinand II. After his death, she became the owner ...