Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Lionheart

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. A fort is known where the Sacrario di Cristo Re is now since the times of Roger I. This fort, named Matagrifone, was where Richard Lionheart stayed, waiting got transport to the Holy Land, and occupied the city. The sanctuary of today was built on the remains of the castle, It was designed in 1937 by Giovanni Battista Milani and built in the Baroque style. It guards the remains of numerous fallen soldiers and civilians of the First World War. To commemorate them, the gong chimes from Sacrario's bell tower every time the sun goes down. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link:Some buildings were erected in the Art Nouveau style after the 1908 earthquake. www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The church dates from the 12th century when Sicily was under Norman rule. Built on top of the ruins of an older temple dedicated to Neptune, the church is an example of Sicilian Norman architecture with its mix of different cultural elements. The church displays influences from Arab and Byzantine architecture and also contains Roman elements. In the first half of the 14th century under Louis III of Anjou (aka "Louis III of Aragon") the building was declared a royal chapel. It is one of the few structures to have survived the catastrophic earthquake in 1908 which destroyed most of Messina. As a result of the earthquake, the church is situated 3 meters below the reconstructed street level. Towards the end of the 15th century, with the unification of the Kingdom of Sicily under the unified crown of Spain, the church became the seat of the "Brotherhood of Catalan Merchants", from which it took its current name. The merchants, nobles, and knights gathered in brotherhood commissioned the construction of a crypt for the burial of the confreres. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link:Some buildings were erected in the Art Nouveau style after the 1908 earthquake. www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The church dates from the 12th century when Sicily was under Norman rule. Built on top of the ruins of an older temple dedicated to Neptune, the church is an example of Sicilian Norman architecture with its mix of different cultural elements. The church displays influences from Arab and Byzantine architecture and also contains Roman elements. In the first half of the 14th century under Louis III of Anjou (aka "Louis III of Aragon") the building was declared a royal chapel. It is one of the few structures to have survived the catastrophic earthquake in 1908 which destroyed most of Messina. As a result of the earthquake, the church is situated 3 meters below the reconstructed street level. Towards the end of the 15th century, with the unification of the Kingdom of Sicily under the unified crown of Spain, the church became the seat of the "Brotherhood of Catalan Merchants", from which it took its current name. The merchants, nobles, and knights gathered in brotherhood commissioned the construction of a crypt for the burial of the confreres. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link:Some buildings were erected in the Art Nouveau style after the 1908 earthquake. www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The church dates from the 12th century when Sicily was under Norman rule. Built on top of the ruins of an older temple dedicated to Neptune, the church is an example of Sicilian Norman architecture with its mix of different cultural elements. The church displays influences from Arab and Byzantine architecture and also contains Roman elements. In the first half of the 14th century under Louis III of Anjou (aka "Louis III of Aragon") the building was declared a royal chapel. It is one of the few structures to have survived the catastrophic earthquake in 1908 which destroyed most of Messina. As a result of the earthquake, the church is situated 3 meters below the reconstructed street level. Towards the end of the 15th century, with the unification of the Kingdom of Sicily under the unified crown of Spain, the church became the seat of the "Brotherhood of Catalan Merchants", from which it took its current name. The merchants, nobles, and knights gathered in brotherhood commissioned the construction of a crypt for the burial of the confreres. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link:Some buildings were erected in the Art Nouveau style after the 1908 earthquake. www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The Cathedral was originally erected in the 12th century. The building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919–20, following the devastating 1908 earthquake, and again in 1943, after a fire triggered by Allied bombings. The original Norman structure can be recognized in the apsidal area. The nave. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The Cathedral was originally erected in the 12th century. The building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919–20, following the devastating 1908 earthquake, and again in 1943, after a fire triggered by Allied bombings. The original Norman structure can be recognized in the apsidal area. The façade has three late Gothic portals, dating back to the early 15th century. Inbetween the partls are friezes. Seen here is the life of farmers. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The Cathedral was originally erected in the 12th century. The building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919–20, following the devastating 1908 earthquake, and again in 1943, after a fire triggered by Allied bombings. The original Norman structure can be recognized in the apsidal area. The façade has three late Gothic portals, dating back to the early 15th century. Here is one of them. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The Cathedral was originally erected in the 12th century. The building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919–20, following the devastating 1908 earthquake, and again in 1943, after a fire triggered by Allied bombings. The original Norman structure can be recognized in the apsidal area. The façade has three late Gothic portals, the central of which probably dates back to the early 15th century. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The Cathedral was originally erected in the 12th century. The building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919–20, following the devastating 1908 earthquake, and again in 1943, after a fire triggered by Allied bombings. The original Norman structure can be recognized in the apsidal area. The façade has three late Gothic portals, the central of which probably dates back to the early 15th century. The campanile of the cathedral holds the astronomical clock of Messina, constructed by the Ungerer Company of Strasbourg in 1933. The mechanism was designed by Frédéric Klinghammer, with the artistic design based on plans by Théodore Ungerer. Parts of the design are similar to the Strasbourg astronomical clock. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Messina, located at the southern entrance of the Strait of Messina, was in the 8th century B.C. founded by Greek colonists. After the First Punic War, it became Roman and after the fall of the Roman Empire, the city was successively ruled by the Goths from 476, then by the Byzantine Empire in 535, by the Arabs in 842, and in 1061 by the Norman brothers Robert Guiscard and Roger Guiscard, later known as Roger I of Sicily. In 1189 Richard I ("The Lionheart") stopped in Messina on his way to the Holy Land and briefly occupied the city after a dispute over the dowry of his sister, who was married to King William II of Sicily (= William the Good). . . Because a tectonic fault zone, the Messina Fault, runs through the Strait of Messina, earthquakes are common here. The city had to be rebuilt again and again. The Second World War brought further destruction to Messina. The Cathedral was originally erected in the 12th century. The building had to be almost entirely rebuilt in 1919–20, following the devastating 1908 earthquake, and again in 1943, after a fire triggered by Allied bombings. The original Norman structure can be recognized in the apsidal area. The façade has three late Gothic portals, the central of which probably dates back to the early 15th century. I have already uploaded a lot of photos previously taken in Sicily. Now I will add only a few. If you want to see more, follow this link: www.ipernity.com/doc/323415/album/1238300

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. The crypt is huge, as it has the same dimensions as choir, ambulatory and radial chapel. The crypt was built 1020-1050. Choir, ambulatory and chapels were completed around 1070. The church was consecrated in 1097, when the first three spans of the nave were added.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. The crypt is huge, as it has the same dimensions as choir, ambulatory and radial chapel. The crypt was built 1020-1050. Choir, ambulatory and chapels were completed around 1070. The church was consecrated in 1097, when the first three spans of the nave were added.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. Saint-Piere seen from northeast. One arm of the transept, choir, ambulatory and radial chapels are visible - from outside. Quite a volume! The door seen, leads into the crypt, on which the church was erected. It is huge, as it has the same dimensions as choir, ambulatory and radial chapel. Once the relics of Saint Leon and Saint Coronat were kept here.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. The nave is rather high and narrow. Light floods in from the eastern windows. A few steps lead up to the choir, with the monk´s stalls around the altar, and the ambulatory, a "must have" for a medieval church, designed for the pilgrims´ flow.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. In the 18th the abbey got secularised and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church. One of the capitals, that are high on the tower. The angel keeps an eye on the town below.

Uzerche has been a strategic place since the early times. The Visigoths looted the town in the 6th century, later it was besieged by Saracen troops. Pepin the Short, son of Charles Martel, father of Charlemagne) upgraded the fortification, so that in Carolingian times, there were 18 towers here, what did not help against the Normans, who looted Uzerche in 909. The town recovered, a Benedictine monastery was founded within the 10th century. In 1095 Pope Urban II visited Uzerche on his way to Clermont-Ferrand, where he agitated for the first crusade. The abbey prospered and a large pilgrim-church was erected over a crypt, from the early 11th century on. Pilgrims arrived in great numbers, and as the Norman influence had grown in the area, even Henry I of England, son of William the Conqueror, and Richard I of England (aka "Lionheart", "Coeur de Lion") have been here. The church got fortified during the Hundred Years War - and still has three fortification towers. The abbey got secularised in the 18th century and Saint-Pierre became a secular collegiate church. Meanwhile it serves as a parish church.

A settlement existed on the banks of the river Seugne already in pre-Roman times. The Romans had a "castrum" here and may have built a bridge = pons crossing the river. Geoffroy III de Pons, Richard Lionheart´s vasall, fortified the town, placed on a limestone plateau over the valley. Down in the valley the construction of Saint-Vivien started in the 12th century. The structure got remodeled, rebuilt and enlarged over the centuries. Seen from this point of view is the large gotic tracery window, that was integrated into the otherwise Romaesque facade within the 15th century.

Late afternoon in Pons, where a settlement existed on the banks of the river Seugne already in pre-Roman times. The Romans had a "castrum" here and may have built a bridge = pons crossing the river. Centuries later, after Visigoths and Vandals had looted the area, the importance grew. Geoffroy III de Pons, a vasall of Richard Lionheart, fortified the town and erected this impressive donjon in 1187, that got a bit "remodeled" in the early 20th century. It is 33 meters high! Only this donjon is left from the medieval castle, that got destroyed by Louis XIII´s troops in 1622. Later the chateau seen left was built, now housing the "mairie", the mayor´s office.