Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: lady

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The small eye catching Romanesque church San Michele is easy to find, located on an isolated hill just outside Murato. It was erected from mid-12th century on and was consecrated in 1280. At that time Corsica was ruled by Pisa and so it was built in a bicolor typical Pisan style recognizable by the alternation of green (serpentine) and white (limestone) stones, very similar to the "Basilica di Saccargia" on the neighbouring island of Sardinia. The single nave church presents remarkable naive motifs on the walls that are amazing in their imagination and variety. A closer look to the lady (prev. upload). She has a nicely combed hair. A rather modern hairdo.

Saint-Nazaire was erected in the 12th century. The church has a very elaborate southern portal (prev. upl.). The geometrical design of the archivolts is typical for the "style saintogne". Above the archivolts are some interesting corbels. Here is one of them. A well dressed lady (notice the sleeves) that seems to hide her mouth behind a kind of scarf. Her eyes are wide open.

Saint Marcel is the parish church of Bayet, a small village north of Broût-Vernet. The church underwent some major reconstructions, but the three apses still seem to be left in the original state. There are some interesting corbels here. A very busty lady. Actually this is not very typical for the 12th century. The corbel obvously got "repaired" with some kind of concrete. The upper part of the bust, incl. that "curly hair" on the left and the complete top part seem to be recent.

Since 2007 smoking is prohibited in all French schools, airports, stations, museums etc. Since 2008 smoking is prohibited in all French bars, pubs, restaurants, nightclubs etc. as well. This lady just found a little niche to smoke a cigarette. The red/white sticker on the gutter pipe is the marker of the GR (sentier de grande randonnée), that crosses the centre of Arles.

"Santa María la Real" is one of the highlights for all people following the "Camino Aragonés" - since about 800 years. The facade is impressing it may take hours, to find out the many details. I stayed an extra day, when I had reached the town, just to see the shadows movig over the carvings. A church did exist here already in 1131 next to the bridge crossing the river Aragon. It was transferred by Alfonso I to the "Knights Hospitaller" (aka "Order of Saint John", later "Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta"). The apse is the oldest part of the structure and probably dates back to that time. The nave and the breathtaking Southern Portal of Santa María la Real were created late 12th/13th century. I have uploaded a "total overview" earlier and will now focus on some details. The archivolts around the large tympanum, depicting the "Last Judgement" are densely populated with dancers, workers, priests and mythical creatures. The shepherd on the right was introduced already on one of the previous uploads. Above him a strange animal with the head of a cow and a long tongue. To the left a lady, wearing a nice cape, with long, flowing hair. Below her is a small as well very well dressed gentleman, holding a small ball. He stands on top of another shepherd, who holds a sheep - and a knife!