Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Agatha of Sicily

Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since the 15th century. With a population of around 525,000, it is the second largest city in Scotland after Glasgow. The city is a cultural centre, and is the home of institutions including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Scottish National Gallery was opened in 1859. It stands on "The Mound" between the two parts of Princes Street Gardens. Giovanni Cariani aka Giovanni Busi (~ 1485/90 - 1547) / St Agatha of Sicily / 1512/18

In 74 BC, the Roman city was founded by Pompejus on the site of a local settlement. The city served to secure the Pyrenees crossing from Roncesvalles. Pamplona was destroyed several times in the course of its history: 466 by the Visigoths, 542 by the Franks, 778 by Charlemagne, 924 by Abd ar-Rahman III and in 1521 during the Franco-Spanish War by troops of Francis I. Its location on the Way of St. James from France gave the capital of the Kingdom of Navarre a boom in the 11th century. With the division of Navarre, the city ultimately came to Spain. After the conquest of the country and its incorporation into Castile in 1512-1515, Pamplona became one of the outposts of the Spanish crown on the French border. Its mission for 300 years was to secure the border against a possible invasion from France. Fortifications and walls were a vital system of defense, but at the same time prevented the city from expanding. The museum is located in the old hospital “Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia de Pamplona” from the 16th century. However, only the facade with the main entrance and the former chapel remain of the hospital. Ramón de Oscáriz Santa Agueda / 16th century Agatha of Sicily (Santa Agueda) rejected the marriage proposal of the pagan governor of Sicily, Quintinian, as she had vowed virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Because Agatha had rejected him, the governor had her deported to a brothel for a month. As she still refused him after this time, Quintinianus had her condemned and had her breasts cut off. According to legend, after this torture, St. Peter appeared to her at night and tended to her wounds. When this was noticed, the governor had Agatha placed on red-hot coals, which caused her death. About a year after her death, Mount Etna erupted and the inhabitants of Catania moved towards the lava flow with the veil of the saint, which then came to a standstill. She is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of Christian antiquity,

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. The "Duomo di Gallipoli" (aka "Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata vergine e martire") is located on the highest point of the island, on an area that was a sacred place probably since antiquity. The bishopric see existed since the end of the 6th century. A cathedral, originally dedicated to (Byzantine!) John Chrysostom, got replaced in 1126 by a new one, dedicated to Agatha of Sicily. This cathedral got destroyed (or at least severely damaged) when in 1284 Charles I of Anjou occupied the city and had it razed to the ground. The cathedral was probably rebuilt together with the rest of the city around 1314. End of the 15th century the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragón, was asked for support, as the cathedral was in dire need of repair. In 1497 a wing of the cathedral had collapsed and the most necessary repairs were made. But the crumbling continued and in the beginning of the 17th century, it was decided to tear it down and build a new church. The erection started in 1629 and continued with many interruptions until the beginning of the 18th century.

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. The "Duomo di Gallipoli" (aka "Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata vergine e martire") is located on the highest point of the island, on an area that was a sacred place probably since antiquity. The bishopric see existed since the end of the 6th century. A cathedral, originally dedicated to (Byzantine!) John Chrysostom, got replaced in 1126 by a new one, dedicated to Agatha of Sicily. This cathedral got destroyed (or at least severely damaged) when in 1284 Charles I of Anjou occupied the city and had it razed to the ground. The cathedral was probably rebuilt together with the rest of the city around 1314. End of the 15th century the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragón, was asked for support, as the cathedral was in dire need of repair. In 1497 a wing of the cathedral had collapsed and the most necessary repairs were made. But the crumbling continued and in the beginning of the 17th century, it was decided to tear it down and build a new church. The erection started in 1629 and continued with many interruptions until the beginning of the 18th century. The façade is a masterpiece in the Lecce Baroque style, but unfortunately, it can only be seen from close up due to the narrow buildings in the area. It bears the date of its completion “A.D. 1696 "

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. The "Duomo di Gallipoli" (aka "Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata vergine e martire") is located on the highest point of the island, on an area that was a sacred place probably since antiquity. The bishopric see existed since the end of the 6th century. A cathedral, originally dedicated to (Byzantine!) John Chrysostom, got replaced in 1126 by a new one, dedicated to Agatha of Sicily. This cathedral got destroyed (or at least severely damaged) when in 1284 Charles I of Anjou occupied the city and had it razed to the ground. The cathedral was probably rebuilt together with the rest of the city around 1314. End of the 15th century the King of Naples, Ferdinand of Aragón, was asked for support, as the cathedral was in dire need of repair. In 1497 a wing of the cathedral had collapsed and the most necessary repairs were made. But the crumbling continued and in the beginning of the 17th century, it was decided to tear it down and build a new church. The erection started in 1629 and continued with many interruptions until the beginning of the 18th century. The façade is a masterpiece in the Lecce Baroque style, but unfortunately, it can only be seen from close up due to the narrow buildings in the area. It bears the date of its completion “A.D. 1696 "