Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: window

San Salvador de Valdediós’ is a pre-Romanesque church that was built towards the end of the 9th century. Next to the church is the Cistercian monastery of Valdediós with its 13th century church of St Mary. Its construction is attributed to King Alfonso III. The consecration in the presence of seven bishops took place during his reign. The date of this event was engraved on a marble plaque, which states that it took place ‘SUB ERA DCCCCXXX’ - that is, in the year 930 of the Augustan era, which corresponds to 892 AD. San Salvador de Valdediós was probably part of a palace complex built by King Alfonso III (848-910), to which he retreated after being deposed by his sons. The church is a three-nave basilica with a barrel vault and three rectangular apses. The exterior is divided by buttresses, which reflect the internal division into nave and aisles on the west façade. The nave has three entrances, two in the south aisle and one in the west. A twin window with small horseshoe arches opens above a round arch portal at the level of the gallery. Two Windows

Albenga is on the Gulf of Genoa. It was built around the 4th century B.C. Founded in BC and was the capital of the Ingauni, a Ligurian tribe. The area became Roman and Albingaunum received 45 BC. Roman citizenship under Julius Caesar. After the end of the Roman Empire, the city suffered from Visigoth raids, which partially destroyed and plundered Albenga. Albenga established itself as a medieval municipality in 1098. That same year, Albenga, with her own banner and troops joined the First Crusade and was granted free trade rights by the King of Jerusalem. Later, after Frederick Barbarossa's invasion of northern Italy, the city supported him and joined the Ghibelline coalition, which was never abandoned in the centuries that followed. In 1159 Albenga received the imperial investiture for its entire territory. Today the city is characterized by more than ten slender family towers. The Baptistery is a paleochristian structure that stands adjacent to the Albenga Cathedral. Inscriptions date construction to the 5th century. The layout is that of a decagon with an octagonal drum. The large, rectangular pool is still designed for adult baptism by immersion. There are some old marble carvings. A window - seen from outside.

Bari was an early settlement and passed under Roman rule in the 3rd century BC. It developed strategic significance as the point of junction between the coast road and the Via Traiana and as a port for eastward trade. The first bishop of Bari was Gervasius who is known from the Council of Sardica in 347. After the decline of the Roman Empire, the town was devasted and taken by Alaric´s Visigothic troops, then was under Lombardian rule, before the Byzantines took over. In 755 it was conquered by Pepin the Short (Charlemagne´s father) and from 847 on it was an Islamic Emirate. The Byzantine fleet returned in 871 and since 885 Bari was the residence of the local Byzantine governor. Following a three-year siege, Bari was captured by Robert Guiscard in 1071. After the relics of Saint Nicholas, which were brought from Myra in Lycia, arrived in Bari, the Basilica di San Nicola was founded in 1087. This attracted pilgrims, whose encouragement and care became central to the economy of Bari. After the murder of archbishop Griso in 1117 a civil war broke our and the control was seized by Grimoald Alferanites, a native Lombard, in opposition to the Normans. He later did homage to Roger II of Sicily, but rebelled and was defeated in 1132. The Castello Normanno-Svevo (aka "Castello di Bari") was probably built around 1132 by Norman King Roger II. When in 1155 the Baresi rebelled against the Normans, the castle got destroyed, so as a retaliatory action, William I of Sicily (aka "William the Wicked") had the city destroyed except for the cathedral and the Basilica of St. Nicola. Bari recovered and had its heydays under Frederick II. When he returned from his crusade after 1229, the city gates were locked so he had to use force to gain entry. Therefore, he probably had the fort built in 1233 to keep the city in check. On the other hand, he granted the city generous trade privileges and left it the leading role in the region. - The most important day in Bari´s medieval history was May 09. 1087. At that day seamen sailed into the harbour, carrying the remains of Saint Nicholas. They had stolen (or recovered) them from the saint’s original shrine in Myra, and following the legend, the saint, passing by the city on his way to Rome, had chosen Bari as his burial place. The cathedral was constructed as a shrine. The crypt got consecrated already in 1089 in presence of Pope Urban II. The Basilica di San Nicola clearly influenced the Romanesque style in Southern Italy. It still is a place of pilgrimage for Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Frederick II called the basilica "nostra specialis capella" and for the House of Anjou it was a "basilica palatina". It was built between 1087 and 1197 directly on the sea. It was the highest building over centuries in Bari. For all passengers, pilgrims, crusaders approaching Bari on ships, the apse was the first that could be seen onshore. Here is the apse window. Two elephants support the flanking columns that are "crowned" by (rather damaged) winged lions.

The Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans have been here. In 216 BC, during the second Punic war, the Battle of Canne was fought nearby which led to the heavy defeat of the Romans by Hannibal's army. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the area was taken over by the Normans, who built a fortress here. During the time of the Crusades, Barletta became an important gathering point for the armies of knights. The city had its heyday under Frederick II, who in 1228 announced the sixth crusade during the Diet held here. Following the Muslim conquest in the Holy Land, the Archbishops of Nazareth took permanent refuge in Barletta in 1327. - The Duomo di Barletta (aka "Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore") was erected in Romanesque and later Gothic style from the 12th to the 14th century. The church occupies the site of ancient structures attributed to a temple dedicated to Neptune. Already in the 6th century, a palaeo-Christian basilica existed here. After Canosa had been destroyed by Muslim raiders, numerous clerics moved to Barletta. Traces of the church they erected can still be seen. A Romanesque church was built over this in Norman times, late 12th century the bell tower was raised. The church was consecrated in 1267, but was not completed before the 14th century. Three small windows.

The Phoenicians, the Greeks and the Romans have been here. In 216 BC, during the second Punic war, the Battle of Canne was fought nearby which led to the heavy defeat of the Romans by Hannibal's army. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the area was taken over by the Normans, who built a fortress here. During the time of the Crusades, Barletta became an important gathering point for the armies of knights. The city had its heyday under Frederick II, who in 1228 announced the sixth crusade during the Diet held here. Following the Muslim conquest in the Holy Land, the Archbishops of Nazareth took permanent refuge in Barletta in 1327. - The Duomo di Barletta (aka "Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore") was erected in Romanesque and later Gothic style from the 12th to the 14th century. The church occupies the site of ancient structures attributed to a temple dedicated to Neptune. Already in the 6th century, a palaeo-Christian basilica existed here. After Canosa had been destroyed by Muslim raiders, numerous clerics moved to Barletta. Traces of the church they erected can still be seen. A Romanesque church was built over this in Norman times, late 12th century the bell tower was raised. The church was consecrated in 1267, but was not completed before the 14th century. The window is framed by devils and evil creatures from hell, all torturing and devouring the poor souls of the sinners.

Trani may have been founded by Greek settlers, but the known history starts late. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was dominated by Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens and again Byzantines. With the conquest of southern Italy by the Normans and after 50 days of siege by Robert Guiscard´s troops, Trani became part of the Norman Empire in 1073. Already under the Byzantines, Trani had become an important port for trade with the Orient. The heyday was in the time of the crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries, when crusaders and merchants mainly went to the Holy Land from Bari and Trani. It became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Frederick II promoted the Teutonic Knights and the Jewish community and built a massive castle. Under his rule, the city reached its highest point of wealth and prosperity. The "Chiesa di Ognissanti" (= All Saints) was probably founded in the 12th and completed in the 13th century. It is located next to the harbour, from where many crusaders sailed off to the Holy Land. The tradition links the church to the Templar Order, but following the documents, it is more likely that it was the church of the merchant colony of Ravello. It may well have been a place of blessing for the crusaders. The church became the property of the bishop of Conversano and in 1479 was donated to the Lambertini family, that originated from, Ravello. Since the 19th century, the church is as well known as "Chiesa del Purgatorio". It became the seat of several Confraternities. It served the parish up to 1975 and became the seat of the Secular Franciscan Order in the 1980s. In 2019 there was a sign that it is now "Sito ufficiale dei Templari Cattolici d´Italia". . The rear of the church facing the sea with three small protruding semicircular apses is very extraordinary. Here is the window of the central apse. Here are different kinds of stones carved in different styles and techniques. Seen on top is Samson tearing the lion apart.

Trani may have been founded by Greek settlers, but the known history starts late. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was dominated by Lombards, Byzantines, Saracens and again Byzantines. With the conquest of southern Italy by the Normans and after 50 days of siege by Robert Guiscard´s troops, Trani became part of the Norman Empire in 1073. Already under the Byzantines, Trani had become an important port for trade with the Orient. The heyday was in the time of the crusades in the 12th and 13th centuries, when crusaders and merchants mainly went to the Holy Land from Bari and Trani. It became an episcopal see in place of Canosa, destroyed by the Saracens. Frederick II promoted the Teutonic Knights and the Jewish community and built a massive castle. Under his rule, the city reached its highest point of wealth and prosperity. The construction of the "Cattedrale di Trani" began in 1099, over the earlier church of "Santa Maria della Scala", which went back to the 4th century. It is dedicated to "San Nicola Pellegrino". Bari had the relics of "Saint Nicholas of Myra". The Bishop of Trani could convince Pope Urban II to canonized a young pilgrim, who had died on his way to Jerusalem in Trani in 1094 from exhaustion. The new church was intended to house the relics of "Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim". Pina Belli d'Elia ("Puglia romanica") is sure, that this cathedral is the most important of all romanic buildings in Apulia. The building process started at the crypt. The "translatio corporis S. Nicolai ad novam Ecclediam" took place in 1142. As parts of the old church, dedicated to Virgin Mary, were maintained, the construction is pretty complex. The "Cattedrale di Trani" was completed around 1200, the construction of the campanile started by Nicolaus Sacerdos (see "Bitonto") and completed in the mid 14th century. In the20th century the bell tower was in such a bad state, that it was completely dismantled and rebuilt in the 1950s to avoid it collapsing. The cathedral was built from white, local stones, that change the colour from white to yellowish and reddish, during the sunset. The facade has a large rose window, surrounded by griffins and lions, what is no surprise. The window below the rose is flanked by two ELEPHANTS!

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The legend tells, that Saint Kunibert, who was bishop of Cologne and advisor to King Dagobert I, founded a monastery here. In its center existed a church, dedicated to Saint Clemens, where St. Kunibert was buried. Around 1210 the construction of a new church began. The choir was completed in 1226. St. Kunibert was consecrated in 1247, just a year before he Gothic cathedral was begun. So this is the "youngest" of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. As a result of the secalurization the monastery ceased to exist in 1802. The church remained in use by the local parish. In 1830 the the western tower collapsed during a storm. It got rebuilt until 1860 but got ruined in 1944, when the church fell into ruins due to the air raids. Reconstruction of choir and nave were finished 1955, however rebuilding of transept and western tower were only started in the late 1970s, after a long controversial dispute. Reconstruction work was finally finished in 1993. Some windows of the choir date back to 1220/1230. Here the "Tree of Jesse" is depicted. The nativity scene is a detail of that window.

Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany - and one of the oldest. A Germanic tribe, the Ubii, had a settlement here, this was named by the Romans "Oppidum Ubiorum". In 50 AD, the Romans founded "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium", the city then became the provincial capital of "Germania Inferior". The legend tells, that Saint Kunibert, who was bishop of Cologne and advisor to King Dagobert I, founded a monastery here. In its center existed a church, dedicated to Saint Clemens, where St. Kunibert was buried. Around 1210 the construction of a new church began. The choir was completed in 1226. St. Kunibert was consecrated in 1247, just a year before he Gothic cathedral was begun. So this is the "youngest" of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. As a result of the secalurization the monastery ceased to exist in 1802. The church remained in use by the local parish. In 1830 the the western tower collapsed during a storm. It got rebuilt until 1860 but got ruined in 1944, when the church fell into ruins due to the air raids. Reconstruction of choir and nave were finished 1955, however rebuilding of transept and western tower were only started in the late 1970s, after a long controversial dispute. Reconstruction work was finally finished in 1993. Some windows of the choir date back to 1220/1230. Here the "Tree of Jesse" is depicted.

The monastery, that once existed here may have been founded by Benedictine monks. In later days Augustine canons lived here, before the church became a parish church. Due to an inscription, found during restauration works, it is clear, that 1180 this church existed already, though smaller than it is today, as it got enlarged at least twice. First time within the 13th century. The complete western front is probably from the first construction phase of the church. There are strong parallels to Paço de Sousa (previous uploads), only about 20kms west. Where in Paço de Sousa is a rose window, here are small windows, flanked by pillars.

After the preceding "Domus Justinae" in Piacenza had collapsed in 1117 after an earthquake, the "Duomo di Piacenza" (aka "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Giustina") was erected between 1122 and 1233. The cathedral has a total length of 85 m. making it the largest Romanesque church in Emilia-Romagna. Unfortunately the Duomo was under reconstruction and hidden under scaffoldings. I could not enter, as it was locked on this rainy day. So I could not the see the interior and the crypt, known for more than 100 Romanesque pillars. The duomo has a very slender, elegant central apse with this extraordinary window. To the top left is Angel Gabriel, holding a banner, that reads "AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA DOMINUS TECUM" - "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" = Luke 1.28. Written on the banner held by the bearded prophet below is "ORIETUR STELLA EX JACOB" - "A star will rise from Jacob" = Numbers 24:17, while the prophet ob the right holds the banner "ECCE VIRGO CONCIPIET ET PARIET" - "The virgin will conceive and give birth" = Matthew 1:23. Stunning is that delicate semicircular frame with the four heads.

The wooden window frame of the shop seems to be newer than the nine men's morris carved into the stone.

A cathedral and a bishopric existed in Rodez since the 6th century. When in 1276 the bell tower of the old cathedral collapsed, it was decided to erect a completely new one, as meanwhile the Gothic style had reached Southern France. The works on the cathedral were slowed down by the Hundred Years War and the outbreak of the bubonic plague (aka "Black Death"). So the cathedral was finally completed around 1530, after 250 years. The chathedral´s new windows are designed by Stéphane Belzère.

Though I was early that day, I was too late. About three weeks too late. The "Chapelle du Rosaire" was closed. I learned from the paper, pasted onto the locked door: "Fermeture annuelle 15.11. - 20.12." So I could only see the building from the sidewalk of the street. The window (behind the altar) as seen from outside. This chapel was regarded by Matisse himself as his "masterpiece. It is a very complex work of art and has a wonderful background. Many of the artists around Matisse (e.g. Picasso) did not like what Matisse was doing here. Matisse started this "project" at the age of 77 - and spent more than 4 years. Please follow the whole story of the chapel on Wikipedia: english en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelle_du_Rosaire_de_Vence french fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelle_du_Rosaire_de_Vence german de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapelle_du_Rosaire_de_Vence Here are the opening hours: maison.lacordaire.pagesperso-orange.fr/index02.htm

Already within the 5th century existed a church here, at that time far out of the city walls of Como. It served at the bishop´s seat upto 1007, when Bishop Alberico moved the seat into the town - and the church entrusted to the Benedictines. The monks, with strong support of Henry II (aka "Saint Henry") rebuilt the basilica between 1022 and 1095. Pope Urban II consecrated the new basilica in June 1095, about 6 months before he preached the First Crusade on the Council of Clermont. There are parallels between Sant'Abbondio and cathedrals erected the same time north of the Alps. Henry II was the last emperor of the Ottonian dynasty, who have been powerful sponsors for many churches within the Holy Roman Empire. All the windows around the apse are decorated. Here are blackbirds having a dinner party in a vineyard.