Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: staircase

Riga has the highest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture in the world. Most of the Art Nouveau buildings in Riga, built during a period of rapid economic growth, date from between 1904 and 1914, with influences from what is now Austria, Finland and Germany.The establishment of an architecture faculty in Riga in 1869 contributed significantly to the city's well-trained architect base. By the end of the 19th century, Riga was an important city in the Russian Empire. Between 1897 and 1913, the city grew by 88%, reaching a population of 530,000 in 1914. In the mid-19th century, the city began to expand beyond medieval Riga, which was once surrounded by gates and walls. These were demolished and replaced by a belt of boulevards and gardens, and the growing city developed according to a grid that followed strict building regulations. Between 1910 and 1913, 300 to 500 new buildings were erected each year, most of them in Art Nouveau style, and most of them outside the old town. Today, Art Nouveau architecture accounts for one third of all "the buildings in the centre of Riga. Located in the center of the "Art Nouveau district" is the museum "Rīgas Jūgendstila Centrs" The staircase leads up to the former studio of the famous Latvian painter Janis Rozentāls. In his honour, a memorial museum has been set up there on the top floor. jugendstils.riga.lv/eng/sakums

Tomar today is a modern city with a population of about 40.000. After the conquest of the area from the Moors by Portugal´s first king Afonso Henriques in 1147, the land was granted in 1159 as a fief to the Order of the Knights Templar, who erected the castle/monastery "Convento de Cristo" here, that later became the headquarters of the Order in Portugal. Gualdim Pais, Grand Master of the Order, granted priviliges to the evolving town already in 1162. After the Order of the Knights Templar was suppressed in 1314 King Dinis was able to transfer the possessions and personnel of the Order in Portugal to a newly created Order of Christ. In the 15th century Henry the Navigator was made the Governor of the Order. He was the central figure in the early days of the European maritime discoveries and maritime expansion, later known as the "Age of Discovery", and he may have used resources and knowledge of the Order to succeed in his enterprises in Africa and in the Atlantic. In 1492 the Jews were expelled from Spain. Many refugees settled in Tomar, what helped the town to develop. Jews lived here undisturbed for several decades until the Portuguese Inquisition got installed. Many could escape by migrating, but about 1000 were tortured and executed. Tomar was occupied by the French during the Napoleonic invasions and was liberated by Portuguese and English troops commanded by the Duke of Wellington. When Henry the Navigator was the Governor of the Order, much money was invested into the rebuilding of the "Convento de Cristo" in flamboyant Gothic / Manueline renaissance style. The spiral staircase has a mathematical elegance. Perfect!

The Basilica di San Vincenzo and the Battistero di San Giovanni are on a hill in Galliano, just outside Cantù. The church was consecrated in 1007, but that marks the end of a rebuilding process. This was sponsored by Ariberto da Intimiano, who was Bishop of Milano from 1018 on - and a strong supporter of Emperor Henry II and his successor Conrad II. The large baptistery next to the basilica was probably erected at the same time. In the center of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" is a rectangular room, "created" by the four apses, seen from outside. These rough stairs lead up to the matronaeum on the second floor. Climbing up the stairs I felt like inside a nuraghe, but these megalithic buildings in Sardinia are thousands of years older than the baptistery.

The construction of the "Battistero di San Giovanni" started in 1152 to replace an older baptistry. Since its completion in 1363 the transition from (Pisan) Romanesque to (Pisan) Gothic style was visible. The baptistry was designed by Diotisalvi, who signed and dated the building ("1153"), similar to the "Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro" (previous uploads), he had designed some decades before. The baptistry is about 54 m high, with a circumference of 107 m. A narrow staircase runs up to the gallery.