The Taller the Spires, the Closer to God

The Taller the Spires, the Closer to God. Milan, Italy. May 2015.

Life in Milan centers around the Duomo di Milano. It is a magnificent gothic structure of flying buttresses and spires that took nearly 600 years to complete. It is hard to fathom, but all the marble for the duomo originates from one quarry, the Candoglia Quarry, located near Lago Maggiore about 100km north of Milan. This exclusive agreement has been in place for centuries and it means that marble mined from this quarry can only be used to restore the Duomo di Milano and no other project. This makes the cathedral something truly special.

As you can imagine, transporting this much marble in the 1300s was a massive endeavor and at this time Milan had navigli or canals (believed to be designed by da Vinci) snaking through the city that helped bring these massive blocks all the way down south through a system of locks.

The rooftop of the duomo is open to the public and from there you can truly appreciate the craftsmanship and architecture of the cathedral. Apparently there are more statues on the duomo than any other structure in the world.

The duomo is such a staple of daily life in Milan and is easily taken for granted, that is why photos like this remind me of how good I had it!

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light. Copenhagen, Denmark. February 2016.  

This was my first step into a Lutheran Church and man was it a memorable one. When my friend and I visited Grundtvig's Kirke in Copenhagen, I expected significant foot traffic because it is one of the most recognizable churches in the city, however we walked into complete silence and this stunning, light-filled nave. Grundtvig's Kirke is known for it's Expressionist exterior and Gothic-inspired interior. While the exterior reminds me of a crazy space ship straight out of Krypton the interior is beautiful in its silence and simplicity. 

Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business. Batalha, Portugal. August 2016.

One of my favorite stops in Portugal was the small town of Batalha, home of the Batalha Monastery aka Monastery of the Battle. The Batalha Monastery was constructed as a tribute to the Portugese and English victory over the Crown of Castile (Spain) in a battle that prevented the Castilians from claiming the Portugese throne in 1385. This photo captures my favorite part of the monastery - the Unfinished Chapels. These incomplete open air chapels are a beautiful reminder that the monastery has remained unfinished for over 500 years. Construction began on the building in 1386 and took over 100 years to "complete." Plans to finish the chapels were abandoned when resources were reallocated to build the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon.

I did not fully grasp Manueline-style architecture until I saw Royal Cloisters, Unfinished Chapels, and other spaces within the monastery. The beautiful lacework carved into the exterior and pillars of the chapel with ornamental angels, ropes, branches, and leaves are all signatures of the Manueline style. Today, the octogonal rotunda and seven chapels serve as reminders of the late-Gothic Portugese style.....as well as a homey refuge for birds.