Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: bell tower

The origins of San Pedro de Rocas date back to before 573, the year in which, according to an inscription on a tombstone in the monastery church, five inhabitants of the monastery received some kind of inheritance. It is linked to the missionary Martín de Braga in the Suebian period. At the beginning of the 8th century, the place was abandoned due to Muslim attacks. In a document from 1007 is reported that in the 9th century a knight found the ruins while hunting and lived there with his companions as religious. It is assumed that this story is a legend, though monastic life was refounded. Alfonso III of Asturias introduced the Benedictine rule and provided the monastery at that time with large donations. In the 11th century, a fire destroyed a large part of the monastery, but it got rebuilt. Another fire destroyed the monastery complex in 1640 and the subsequent reconstruction gave the monastery its current appearance. After the confiscation of the church property in 1836, the church became a parish church, which had to be closed at the beginning of the 20th century due to the numerous landslides. The church, which dates back to the 12th century , has three naves dug into the rock. The naves are actually two chapels separated by arches into the rock. The central nave is wider and longer than the side ones. There are five tombs on its floor. There is a vent in the ceiling through which light and air enter, as if it were a false dome with a lantern. The ceiling of all the chapels simulates a barrel vault. The bell tower stands on a boulder

The origins of San Pedro de Rocas date back to before 573, the year in which, according to an inscription on a tombstone in the monastery church, five inhabitants of the monastery received some kind of inheritance. It is linked to the missionary Martín de Braga in the Suebian period. At the beginning of the 8th century, the place was abandoned due to Muslim attacks. In a document from 1007 is reported that in the 9th century a knight found the ruins while hunting and lived there with his companions as religious. It is assumed that this story is a legend, though monastic life was refounded. Alfonso III of Asturias introduced the Benedictine rule and provided the monastery at that time with large donations. In the 11th century, a fire destroyed a large part of the monastery, but it got rebuilt. Another fire destroyed the monastery complex in 1640 and the subsequent reconstruction gave the monastery its current appearance. After the confiscation of the church property in 1836, the church became a parish church, which had to be closed at the beginning of the 20th century due to the numerous landslides. The church, which dates back to the 12th century , has three naves dug into the rock. The naves are actually two chapels separated by arches into the rock. The central nave is wider and longer than the side ones. There are five tombs on its floor. There is a vent in the ceiling through which light and air enter, as if it were a false dome with a lantern. The ceiling of all the chapels simulates a barrel vault. The bell tower stands on a boulder

The late Gothic church made of larch wood is one of the oldest wooden churches in Poland. The rood screen bears the date 1459. After a reconstruction in 1654 it was consecrated. Reconstructions took place in the first half of the 19th century. The church has a block structure, standing on a stone foundation and is reinforced on both sides. When the wooden church became too small for the parish, in 1906-1908 the western wall was demolished and a neo-Romanesque brick nave, seen here, was added. The wooden bell tower was also built around this time.

Today only about 500 people live in Villemaur-sur-Vanne, now part of Aix-Villemaur-Pâlis. But in the 13th century, Villemaur-sur-Vanne was an important, fortified town. Four annual fairs were held here. At that time the collegiate church was erected. After a fire in 1446, the nave was rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century and completed around 1540. The unique bell tower (33 meters high), covered with chestnut shingles, dates from the 16th century. The church is known for the complete rood screen, carved in 1521. It is believed to be one of the most important surviving wooden cross screens in France. But as the church was under renovation, it was locked.

Today only about 500 people live in Villemaur-sur-Vanne, now part of Aix-Villemaur-Pâlis. But in the 13th century, Villemaur-sur-Vanne was an important, fortified town. Four annual fairs were held here. At that time the collegiate church was erected. After a fire in 1446, the nave was rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century and completed around 1540. The unique bell tower (33 meters high), covered with chestnut shingles, dates from the 16th century. The church is known for the complete rood screen, carved in 1521. It is believed to be one of the most important surviving wooden cross screens in France. But as the church was under renovation, it was locked.

Taranto located on a peninsula was founded by Greek settlers and during the period of Greek colonization in Southern Italy, the city was among the most important in "Magna Graecia". During the Second Punic War, Taranto supported Hannibal in Italy and opened it´s doors to his troops in 212 BC, but when Romans recaptured Taranto three years later, they massacred the citizens and looted the town. It became a Roman colony later. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Taranto got fortified. In 547 Taranto asked a Byzantine general for support. He greatly reduced the size of the city in order to be able to defend it. So he separated the part of the isthmus from the actual city area, making an island out of the peninsula and fortified it strongly. Nevertheless, three years later, the city was conquered by the Ostrogoth troops of Totila. Later Taranto was ruled by Langobards. The city was conquered by the Saracens in 839 and an emirate existed up to 880 when it was taken by a Byzantine army, but in 927 the Saracens were back looted and destroyed the city. It was rebuilt under Byzantine power from 967 on. Normans conquered Taranto in the second half of the 11th century and founded the "Principality of Taranto" 1086, later bequeathed by Frederic II to his son Manfred. The Old Town ("Città Vecchia") still retains the same street layout of 967, when the Byzantines rebuilt it after Saracen troops had razed to the ground in 927. Still in 1746 the entire population of Taranto resided in Old Town. By 2013 the population of the Old Town was just 1000 while the wider city had more than 200000 inhabitants. Today the structural structure of the old town in this area is currently in a disastrous state. Many houses are abandoned, in danger of collapsing or already in ruins. The old town today is a drastic example of an urban state of neglect. The Taranto Cathedral is located in the centre of the old town in a place, where the Greek settlers had a temple already. The construction of the church was started in the second half of the 10th century by the Byzantines during the reconstruction of the city. End of the 11th century the Byzantine structure was remodelled and enlarged by Norman builders. The current cathedral, dedicated Saint Cataldo, an Irish monk, who became bishop here in the 7th century, was built, "reusing" large parts of the Byzantine building and so creating a Romanesque basilica on a Latin Cross. In the 12th century bell tower was built was actually destroyed by the earthquake of 1456. It was rebuilt in 1952 during the restoration works.

Isola is known by sportspeople, as nearby is a ski resort named Isola 2000, that was opened in the early 1970s. The Romanesque bell tower from the 13th century. It is the last remnant of the former St. Peter's Church, which has disappeared.

The parish church Saint-Sixte has a nice "bell tower" (= "clocher-mur"). This was once the church of a priory dependent on the Benedictine abbey in Souillac. No structure of that priory, but this church, still exists.

St. Johann was destroyed by French troops in 1799. Only the bell tower survived. Some walls of the nave are now part of a residential house. Seen in the background is the tower of the the Church of the Assumption, now the parish church of Mals.

Late afternoon in Huesca. Standing on the bell tower of the Huesca Cathedral. Below is the bullring. The tower was erected between 1369 and 1423, it lost it´s spire during the Spanish Civil War, but still is pretty high. A thunderstorm had approached Huesca much faster, than I had expected, when I still was on the ground. So I was not prepared and got pretty wet up there - and it was difficult for me to handle the camera.