Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: night

In 192 BC, the Romans conquered the area and founded the outpost Toletum. Due to its iron ore deposits, Toledo developed into an important settlement. Since the first barbarian invasions, the ancient walls were reinforced. In 411 the Alans and later the Visigoths conquered the city. Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths' empire from about 531 to 711. The Moors conquered the place in 712. Toledo experienced its heyday during the period of Moorish rule as Ṭulayṭula during the Caliphate of Córdoba until its conquest by Alfonso VI in 1085, after a four-year siege. In 1088, only a few years after the conquest, Archbishop Bernard of Toledo obtained confirmation from Pope Urban II that Toledo should hold the "primatus in totis Hispaniarum regnis" (primacy in all the kingdoms of the Iberian dominions). The Archbishop of Toledo is still today the Primate of the Catholic Church of Spain. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Toledo school of translators translated ancient philosophical writings (Plato, Aristotle) that had been translated from Greek into Arabic, but also genuinely Arabic writings from the fields of astronomy, mathematics, Islamic religion and theology into Latin. After the conquest by Alfonso VI, Toledo became the residence of the Kingdom of Castile in 1087 and remained the capital of Spain until 1561. Night over the Tajo river

Palencia was called Pallantia in ancient times and was the capital of a Celtiberian tribe. Palencia probably became the seat of a bishop as early as the 3rd century, and the city experienced its first heyday under the Visigoths in the 6th and 7th centuries. In the 8th century, the Arab-Moorish armies conquered the area around Palencia. In the 11th century the city was reconquered by the Christians (reconquista). The greatest supporter at the beginning of the 13th century was the Castilian King Alfonso VIII. Already during his lifetime, but mainly after his death (1214), the existing cathedral school was converted into one of the first universities in Europe. Churrería - "El Mara"

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. As each tourist takes at least 100 photos (minimum!) in Venice 3000000000 photos are taken here per year, what means more than 8 millions per day. Many of them are uploaded and can be found in the web. So, I will only upload a couple of photos - and not add many words.. - The Canal Grande, as seen from the Rialto Bridge, late in the evening.

Crossing the Piazza Santo Spirito at night. Slippery when wet. In the background is the Basilica di Santo Spirito.

Strolling through the Italian night I found this pastry shop, that was still open

Strolling through the Italian night I found this wonderful shop. Of course it was closed at night time.

The Leaning Tower is the main tourist attraction in Pisa. Zillions of photos are taken here each week. Some decades again a discussion started, how to prevent the tower from toppling. 800 tonnes of lead counterweights got installed. In 1989, after a medieval tower in Pavia had collapsed, the Leaning Tower was closed to the public. Engineers were able to straighten the tower by 45 cms and the tower was opened to the public again end of 2001. The engineers returned - and in 2008 they had installed underground cables to the secure the tower. What not many people know, is, that over nighttime, the tower is moved in an upright position. Then all motors holding the cables are switched off. Power consumption is zero - and 1 terawatt of electricity is saved each year. Here is the tower seen in the upright night-position.

The cathedral is the heart of the Piazza del Duomo (aka "Piazza dei Miracoli"). Its construction began in 1064 and set the model for the Pisan Romanesque style of architecture. The Leaning Tower is to the right. I stayed for hours here that night.