We were very lucky to see the Monument to the Discoveries following its renovation, which was accomplished a few years ago. This shot was taken during a winter sunrise; when the sun was rising just behind the monument, softly enlightening the limestone statues. You could almost imagine the Portuguese discoverers, setting sails early in the morning and leaving the safe Lisbon shores to explore the new lands.
Have you ever wondered what MAAT is and what it stands for? This is an abbreviation of the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology. The purpose of this modern building is to be a space for international dialogue, critical thinking and debate. Located on the coast of Lisbon in Belem, it is easy to reach and is a must-see!
Milano Duomo is the 5th largest Cathedral in the world and among this list of five – it is the oldest Cathedral. The day before I took this photo, we were enjoying some “Spritz” with a friend in a rooftop bar. From there, we had a view of the top of the Cathedral. From a bird’s eye view, you can see the many sculptures that are decorating the Duomo Towers.
The Three Towers of San Marino are visible from a great distance when you drive through this country. Each of these medieval structures have their own “character”, name and history. The names of the towers are: Guita, Cesta and Montale.
Somewhere I’ve read that the San Marino walls mimics the Chinese wall. Initially, I thought that it was a slightly exaggerated statement, but when I searched for compositions for my photos this thought seemed true. The complex of the city walls, three towers and the city centre of San Marino itself was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gossip however, is that it’s the least visited country in the world.
It was much like a fairy tale for us, walking on the streets of San Marino. As the centre is on rocky hill, from which you can see all the valleys around, it was like living over the clouds. My favourite time in San Marino was during the sunrise. It was a perfect time to capture the famous San Marino – Three Towers, each located on top of three separate hills.
Piazza Il Campo is the beating heart of this city, especially during the annual horse racing “Palio di Siena” which we witnessed. They take place exactly there, under the Torre del Mangia (The Tower above) and the Palazzo Publico (The building on the side). It was the first city that I saw the city square that was built in the shape of an amphitheatre – the sign of Palio’s importance for Siena’s communities.
The limestone cliffs of Menorca looked both majestic and peaceful during the morning hours of photography taking with folks from PhotoPills. It was difficult for me to imagine that the Cavalleria Coastline was once a witness of piracy and Roman invasion.
Cabo de Cavalleria is the northern headland of the Menorca island. During the spring months, you can observe the sun rising just behind the cliffs and the lighthouse which stands almost on the edge of the coast and the sea. The lighthouse was built on the tallest cliff in the Cabo de Cavalleria headland and in total, stands at 94 meters over sea level, which makes the emanating light visible from the sea, even at a great distance. The light from the lighthouse flashes twice every ten seconds when the night comes.
A beautiful place so crowded during the day, the London Millennium Bridge during the early morning hours was finally deserted. You should see the view at least once when the city sleeps, and St. Paul’s Cathedral is still enlightened. I have heard that the London Millennium footbridge is known by many locals as the “Wobbly Bridge” and I wondered why – especially as I did not feel any shaky movements (even while running to capture the sun rising over The Thames).