13th century church ruins

By hhgygy

(2026-05-02)

In the Zsámbék Basin, on the northeastern border of Tök, which was essentially built together with Zsámbék, stands the long-known ruin of the Árpád-era, presumably late 13th-century church, which is protected as a monument. It underwent conservation in 2022, and its surroundings were also landscaped.
In Hungarian some of these ruins are called "rossz templom" meaning "bad church".

Argamum - ancient Greek city ruins

By hhgygy

(2025-12-20)

The ancient Greek city of Argamum was probably founded in the 7th century BC. Among others, 4 large paleo-Christian basilicas from the 5-6th centuries AD were excavated.

San Martiño de Xubia

By Ariberna

(2025-12-12)

The Monastery of Xuvia, also known as San Martiño de Xuvia or San Martín de Jubia, is located in the Parish of the same name in the city of Narón (Galicia). The current building was built at the beginning of the 12th century, in Romanesque style.

The first document from the Diplomatic Collection of this Monastery, is dated 15 May in the year 977, and it describes a donation made by a Galician noblewoman called Visclavara Vistrariz to the monastery. In this document it is said that this monastery was "ever known."

Vanis Kvabebi

By hhgygy

(2025-12-08)

Vanis Kvabebi is a cave monastery in Georgia dating back from the 8th century.

Monasterio o Priorato

By Ariberna

(2025-12-06)

In the Ourense municipality of Amoeiro , we find an interesting religious monument such as the Monastery of San Miguel do Priorato de Bóveda. This building of Romanesque origin is currently deconsecrated, as it is currently privately owned and has been rehabilitated as a home.

Templo de los jaguares

By Ariberna

(2025-11-18)

Located on the eastern platform of the Great Ballcourt, this small temple is one of the most remarkable at Chichen Itza, both for its architectural design—characteristic of the city—and for its rich and complex decoration, associated with the ritual of the ballgame. The upper section of the temple features two large columns in the form of rattlesnakes with open jaws. The friezes display decoration consisting of bands representing intertwined serpents, jaguars, and shields. Inside the temple, there were mural paintings depicting battle scenes.

Lower Annex
This is a small temple located at the rear of the eastern platform of the Great Ballcourt. It consists of a vaulted chamber. Representations of warriors can be seen on the walls and pilasters. In the central opening is a throne in the form of a feline.

Remains of St Ninian's Church

By Fab

(2025-11-14)

13th century church ruins

By hhgygy

(2025-11-13)

The village of Dörgicse is in a unique position, as it has 7 churches for its population of less than 300. 4 of them are still in operation today, and there are 3 ruined churches remaining from the Middle Ages.
This small medieval church was beautifully restored by architect Kinga Garaguly in 2023. See the photos attached.

14th century church ruins

By hhgygy

(2025-11-13)

The village of Dörgicse is in a unique position, as it has 7 churches for its population of less than 300. 4 of them are still in operation today, and there are 3 ruined churches remaining from the Middle Ages.

13th century church ruins

By hhgygy

(2025-11-13)

The village of Dörgicse is in a unique position, as it has 7 churches for its population of less than 300. 4 of them are still in operation today, and there are 3 ruined churches remaining from the Middle Ages. This church was most likely built in the middle of the 13th century. It has a tall, approximately 20-22 meter high tower on its eastern and western facades, on top of which there was a tent roof and two large crosses before its destruction.

Iglesia San Miguel

By Ariberna

(2025-11-06)

The Church of San Miguel Arcángel is one of the ten medieval churches that once stood in Villalpando, Zamora.
Its style was Mudéjar, although subsequent renovations have left little evidence of the brickwork. Materials such as river stones and earth were also used, with ashlar masonry relegated to the more prominent parts of the building, such as the pilasters and the lower section of the bell tower.
The first documents mentioning this monument date from 1168.
It is currently in ruins.

13th century church ruins

By hhgygy

(2025-10-23)

The first document referring to the existence of a parish dates back to the time of Stephen V (1270-1272), when the proclamation of mining and city rights was made in the church by the parish priest (Pfarrar). In 1228 and 1268, a property sale took place in Rodna (Óradna in Hungarian) before the arrival of the Franciscans. It is possible that the buyers were monks from Rodna. In fact, this is taken for granted, claiming that it was originally a monastic church, first owned by the Dominicans and then by the Franciscans.

Early 12th century provost's palace

By hhgygy

(2025-09-29)

The provostship was founded in 1107 by Prince Álmos, the younger brother of Hungarian King Coloman the Learned, also known as Coloman the Book-Lover, and the basilica was built with a hall crypt under its main sanctuary .

Saint Giles Abbey ruins

By hhgygy

(2025-09-14)

Established by King Ladislaus I of Hungary in 1091.

11th century Byzantine church

By hhgygy

(2025-09-14)

It is called Latin Church by the locals.

11th century round church

By hhgygy

(2025-09-14)

Considered to be the oldest round church in Transylvania, the round church of Geoagiu (in Hungarian Algyógy) was built in the 11th or 12th century and is still used as a belfry today.

Cathedral of Mren

By hhgygy

(2025-08-28)

The Cathedral of Mren is a 7th-century Armenian church in the abandoned medieval town of Mren.

First Turkish-built mosque in Anatolia

By hhgygy

(2025-08-18)

This ancient mosque is almost one thousand years old.

Garni promontory

By tallturtle82

(2025-06-18)

Garni is a scenic village in Armenia known for the classical temple bearing its name. The Garni Temple sits on a triangular promontory overlooking the Azat River.

Mule Canyon Kiva Ruin

By jbottero

(2025-06-01)

Mule Canyon Ruin is a small Ancestral Pueblo (formerly referred to as Anasazi) village, used for living quarters and religious ceremonies. The masonry structures now visible were constructed of sandstone blocks set in wet soil mortar. The construction materials were obtained from the immediate vicinity of the site. During occupation, the walls of the structures (except, the kiva) were higher, and all were roofed.

Temple of Sangri

By Fab

(2024-12-25)

Visocica Hill

By Guest_post

(2024-01-06)

Cat Stone, Hill of Uisneach

By kkeps

(2023-08-01)

The Hill of Uisneach or Ushnagh (Irish: Uisneach or Cnoc Uisnigh) is a hill &ancient ceremonial site in Rathconrath, County Westmeath. It's a protected national monument. It consists of numerous monuments and earthworks, including a probable megalithic tomb, burial mounds, enclosures, standing stones, holy wells, & a medieval road. The hill is near the geographical center of Ireland, and in Irish mythology it is deemed to be the symbolic and sacred center of the island. It was said to be the burial place of the mythical Tuatha Dé Danann, and a place of assembly associated with the druids and the Bealtaine festival.

Chûn Quoit

By Mike_bjm

(2023-03-31)

Chûn Quoit is a portal dolmen is located on Chûn Downs close to the site of Chûn Castle Iron Age Fort.

This dolmen was erected in the Neolithic period (3500-2500BC) and it is thought that it was used for religious/tribal ceremonies rather having a funereal purpose.

Chûn Quoit has a mushroom-like appearance resulting from the domed capstone which is supported by four upright stones. There is cup mark on top of the capstone.

Source: The Old Stones edited by Andy Burnham (ISBN:978-1-78678-154-3)

Bonamargy Friary

By hhgygy

(2023-03-08)

Ruins of a Franciscan monastery established in 1485.

Kokino

By kkeps

(2022-10-25)

Kokino (Кокино) is a Bronze Age archaeological site about 30 km from the town of Kumanovo and about 6 km from the Serbian border, in the Staro Nagoričane Municipality. It is situated between about 1010 and 1030 m above sea level on the Tatićev Kamen summit and covers an area of about 90 x 50 m, overlooking the eponymous hamlet of Kokino.

Last standing wall of Temple of Umm Ubayd

By tallturtle82

(2020-02-18)

The temple was dedicated to the Egyptian god Amun and is about 2,000 years old. In this picture you see the last remaining wall with inscriptions some still in color.

Roman temple of Bziza

By kkeps

(2020-01-31)

Ruins of the Temple of Hera, Mon Repos

By kkeps

(2019-06-03)

Mount Nemrut

By hhgygy

(2019-04-30)

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage program, Mount Nemrut is famous for its giant (8-9 m tall) ancient sculptures of kings and different gods of different religions dating back from 62 BC.

Palace Tomb - Petra

By Mike1989

(2017-02-05)

The Palace Tomb (The Royal Tombs) is very wide, and has three distinct stories in it's facade.

Temple of Baalshamin (destroyed)

By Mike1989

(2017-01-05)

The Temple of Baalshamin was an ancient temple in the city of Palmyra, Syria, dedicated to the Canaanite sky deity Baalshamin. In 2015, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) demolished the Temple of Baalshamin after capturing Palmyra during the Syrian Civil War.

Cerro de los Santos

By kkeps

(2016-05-12)

Piʻilanihale Heiau

By kkeps

(2016-03-24)

Temple of Hercules

By hhgygy

(2016-03-05)

Built between 162-166 AD, this the Temple of Hercules is considered the most important structure within the Amman Citadel complex.

Ruins of Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall

By fin

(2016-02-02)

Holy Trinity Church 12-15th Century

By tallturtle82

(2015-07-13)

The Church of the Holy Trinity has two hypotheses regarding its origin. The first is the church is Romanesque from the 12th century and the second is Venetian Renaissance from the 15th century.

The church stands behind a wall to protect from Turish attacks in the 16th century. Inside the church are Gothic frescoes by Johannes de Castua, a 15th century Istrian artist of Croatia. Castua finished the frescoes in 1490. The most famous fresco is a Dance of Death (pictured). The frescoes were discovered in 1949 under thick layers of plaster.

Alqosh - twenty five centuries old

By tallturtle82

(2014-11-07)

Alqosh is a town in Northern Iraq. The town dates back to 750 BC and is known for its beautiful stone buildings.

Stone Graves

By mlc1us

(2014-09-25)

At St Patrick’s chapel which is a scheduled ancient monument and is now owned by the national trust.

Ad Deir - Petra's Monastery

By tallturtle82

(2014-06-02)

Carved out of rock this monumental building was built by the Nabataens in the first century. It is the second most visited building in Patra after Al Khazneh, aka The Treasury.

Ventarron

By ossewa

(2014-04-13)

Ventarrón is the site of a 4,000-year old temple in Peru, covering about 2500 square meters (27,000 square feet), which was excavated in 2007.

Lonely Bell Tower

By Effi

(2013-11-21)

In the year 1828 a flood destroyed the church of Durazzo.
Since then, the belltower stands alone, waiting for its church to be back.

Temple of Janus

By jbottero

(2013-11-18)

This temple has traditionally been believed to be dedicated to Janus, but this is not certain. Regardless, the Roman temple probably replaced a wooden temple to a Gallic deity that already stood on the site.

The Roman god Janus presided over war, gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings. The month of January and the caretaker of doors and halls, a janitor, are both named for him.

Janus is usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions - one bearded and one clean-shaven - and holding a key. The two faces are believe to represent the sun and moon.

For the ancient Romans, Janus symbolized change and transitions such as the progression of future to past, of one condition to another, of one vision to another, the growing up of young people, and of one universe to another. He also represented time because he could see into the past with one face and into the future with the other.

Thus Janus was worshipped at the beginnings of the harvest and planting times, as well as marriages, births and other beginnings. He was representative of the middle ground between barbarity and civilization, rural country and urban cities, and youth and adulthood.

Temple of Hera II

By jbottero

(2013-11-18)

The Temple of Hera II (sometimes called the Temple of Neptune), is a Greek temple in Paestum, Campania, Italy. The name Temple of Neptune is a misnomer from the 18th century, even though, it was actually dedicated to the goddess Hera. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The second temple to Hera, the nearby Temple of Hera (also called of Neptune), was built around 460–450 BC. It has been variously thought of as a temple dedicated to Poseidon. The Temple of Hera II has nothing in common with the first temple, reason being for its symmetrical style for its columns. Also every column does not have a normal 20 flutes on each column but it has 24 flutes. The Temple of Hera II also has a wider column and a smaller spacing for the placing of the columns. The temple was also found to be used to worship more than just Hera but also Zeus and another unknown god. There are visible on the east side the remains of two altars, one large and one smaller. The smaller one is a Roman addition, built when they cut through the larger one to build a road to the forum. It is also possible that the temple was originally dedicated to both Hera and Poseidon; some offertory statues found around the larger altar are thought to demonstrate this identification.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Hera_(also_called_of_Neptune),_Paestum

Temple of Athena

By jbottero

(2013-11-18)

Paestum is the classical Roman name of a major Graeco-Roman city in the Campania region of Italy. It is located in the north of Cilento, near the coast about 85 km SE of Naples in the province of Salerno, and belongs to the commune of Capaccio, officially also named Capaccio-Paestum.

On the highest point of the town, some way from the other temples, is the Temple of Athena. It was built around 500 BC, and was for some time incorrectly thought to have been dedicated to Ceres. The architecture is transitional, being partly in the Ionic style and partly early Doric. Three medieval Christian tombs in the floor show that the temple was at one time used as a Christian church.

Partly reconstructed Roman temple

By hhgygy

(2013-06-19)

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonia_Ulpia_Traiana

Reconstructed 2nd C. AD Roman temple

By hhgygy

(2013-04-26)

Great Mosque of Al Raqqah

By nico

(2013-04-07)

The Great Mosque is located in the northern section of the city's heart. Its plan is rectangle (108m x 92m) with 1.7m thick mud brick walls fortified with semi-circular towers at the corners. All that remains today are the baked brick minaret and prayer hall (haram) façade with eleven arches that were added by Nur al-Din al-Zanki during the 1165 renovation of the mosque.

http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=7509

Erechtheion on Acropolis

By Dania

(2013-01-03)

The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece.

Parthenon on Acropolis

By Dania

(2013-01-03)

The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the maiden goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although decoration of the Parthenon continued until 432 BC.

It is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece, generally considered the culmination of the development of the Doric order. Its decorative sculptures are considered some of the high points of Greek art. The Parthenon is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece and of ancient democracy and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments. The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.

Al Khazneh - The Treasury

By Dania

(2013-01-01)

Al Khazneh is one of the most elaborate temples in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra. As with most of the other buildings in this ancient town, including the Monastery (Arabic: Ad Deir), this structure was also carved out of a sandstone rock face. It has classical Greek-influenced architecture, and it is a popular tourist attraction.

Harjauca monastery

By hhgygy

(2012-10-14)

Parish Church of Traunkirchen

By hhgygy

(2012-10-12)

Entrance to the Pokrovsky Monastery

By hhgygy

(2012-10-10)

15th century reformed church

By hhgygy

(2012-10-08)

Temple of Vespasian and Titus

By jbottero

(2012-09-22)

The Temple of Vespasian and Titus (Latin: Templum divi Vespasiani, Italian: Tempio di Vespasiano) is located in Rome at the western end of the Roman Forum between the Temple of Concordia and the Temple of Saturn. It is dedicated to the deified Vespasian and his son, the deified Titus. It was begun by Titus in 79 after Vespasian's death and Titus's succession. Titus’ brother, Domitian, completed and dedicated the temple to Titus and Vespasian in approximately 87.

Temple of Vesta

By jbottero

(2012-09-22)

Vesta is the virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family in Roman religion. Vesta's presence is symbolized by the sacred fire that burned at her hearth and temples. Her closest Greek equivalent is Hestia.

The Temple of Vesta (Latin Aedes Vestae, Italian Tempio di Vesta) is an ancient edifice in Rome, Italy, located in the Roman Forum near the Regia and the House of the Vestal Virgins.

Ruins of the colonial open chapel (Dzibilchaltú)

By Mike1989

(2012-08-23)

Dzibilchaltún is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatán, approximately 10 miles north of state capital Mérida.

First Church of Christ, Scientist - Tacoma

By kkeps

(2012-03-15)

First Church of Christ, Scientist is a historic Christian Science church building located at 902 Division Avenue at the corner of I (Eye) Street in Tacoma, Washington. Designed in the Classical Revival style by noted as well as prolific Tacoma architect Frederick Heath, it was built at a cost of $45,000 between 1908 and 1911. It was the second building built by the congregation on this site, the first being a 1901 wooden structure seating 300 that was torn down in 1908. On June 2, 1911, the first service was held in the new church. After becoming debt free, the new church was dedicated in 1921.

The last remaining column of the Greek temple to Hera Lacinia (Juno)

By hhgygy

(2012-01-27)

Roti Abbey

By giove

(2011-10-17)

Tsé Bitʼaʼí / Shiprock

By jbottero

(2011-01-09)

Shiprock is a rock formation rising nearly 1,583 feet (482.5 m) above the high-desert plain on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, New Mexico, USA. It has a peak elevation of 7,177 feet (2,187.5 m) above the sea level. It lies about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the town of Shiprock, which is named for the peak. Governed by the Navajo Nation, the formation is in the Four Corners region and plays a significant role in Navajo religion, mythology and tradition. It is located in the center of the Ancient Pueblo People or Ancestral Puebloan civilization, a prehistoric Native American culture of the Southwest United States often referred to as the Anasazi. Shiprock is a point of interest for rock climbers and photographers and has been featured in several film productions and novels. It is the most prominent landmark in northwestern New Mexico.

Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1975.

Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau

By adrbr

(2010-11-27)

Grotta fucile hermitage

By giove

(2010-11-09)

Saint Sylvester Gozzolini (1177 – November 26, 1267) was an Italian saint, the founder of the religious order known as the Sylvestrines.

Born of the noble family of the Gozzolini at Osimo, Marche, he was sent to study jurisprudence at Bologna and Padua, but, feeling within himself a call to the ecclesiastical state, abandoned the study of law for that of theology and Holy Scripture, giving long hours daily to prayer. On his return home we are told that his father, angered at his change of purpose, refused to speak to him for ten years. Sylvester then accepted a canonry at Osimo and devoted himself to pastoral work with such zeal as to arouse the hostility of his bishop, whom he had respectfully rebuked for the scandals caused by the prelate's irregular life.

The saint was threatened with the loss of his canonry, but decided to leave the world on seeing the decaying corpse of one who had formerly been noted for great beauty. In 1227 he retired to a desert place about thirty miles from Osimo and lived there in the utmost poverty until he was recognized by the owner of the land, a certain nobleman named Conrad, who offered him a better site for his hermitage. From this spot he was driven by damp and next established himself at Grotta Fucile, where he eventually built a monastery of his order.
See also:
http://www.fabrianostorica.it/abbazie/grottafucile.htm

Santa Maria Giacobbe abbey

By giove

(2010-11-04)

Sasso vivo abbey

By giove

(2010-11-04)

The Abbey of Sassovivo is a Benedictine monastery in Umbria in central Italy. Administratively, it is a frazione of the comune of Foligno.
Contents

The abbey lies in an ancient oak wood, 6 km from Foligno. Located at an altitude of 565 m on a rocky spur at the foot of Mount Serrone, it overlooks the Valle Umbra.

The abbey was founded by the Benedictines around 1070, probably by one Mainhard coming from Santa Maria di Sitria. The abbey was based on an existing castle of the Monaldi family, on a site probably used in ancient times by the Umbri as sanctuary.

The abbey soon increased its power and prestige thanks to numerous donations. In 1138 its possession extended from Rome (the basilica of Santi Quattro Coronati) to Perugia, Spoleto and Camerino. In the following centuries it had 97 monasteries, 41 churches and 7 hospitals. In the late 15th century the abbey passed to the Olivetan Benedictines.

The abbey started to decay from the 15th century. In the course of the Napoleonic Wars, it was partially closed and in 1860, after the fall of the Papal States, its dependencies were divided between the Italian state, the local bishopric and privates. Today, part of the Abbey belongs to the Diocese of Foligno, another part to the State and the third part to a private family.

Some parts have been used by the seminarists of Foligno in the summer months. Between 1951 and 1957 the monastery was inhabited by a group of Benedictine Monks taking refuge here after exile from the communist regime in Prague.

In 1979, the Bishop of Foligno entrusted the Abbey to the Community of “Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas of Father Charles de Foucauld” who are still living there to this day.

In the 1970s-1990s a substantial program of restoration was carried on. The church is still under restoration after having been damaged by an earthquake in 1997.

Recently, the relics of St. Maron were stolen from the abbey.

Madonna dell'Ambro sanctuary

By giove

(2010-11-04)

La Verna sanctuary

By giove

(2010-11-04)

La Verna, in Latin Alverna and geographically known as Monte Penna, is a locality on Mount Penna, an isolated mountain of 1,283 m situated in the centre of the Tuscan Apennines, rising above the valley of the Casentino. The place is known especially for its association with Saint Francis of Assisi—it is here that he is said to have received the stigmata—and for the Sanctuary of La Verna which grew up in his honour. Administratively it falls within the Tuscan province of Arezzo and the comune of Chiusi della Verna, Italy.
Count Orlando of Chiusi gave La Verna to Francis on May 8, 1213 as a retreat specially favourable for contemplation, and in 1218 built him the chapel Santa Maria degli Angeli. In August, 1224, Francis withdrew to La Verna to keep a forty days fast in preparation for Michaelmas and while praying on the mountain-side he received (on or about 14 September) the stigmata. Thus La Verna came to be seen as sacred ground. Pope Alexander IV took it under his protection. In 1260 a church was consecrated there in presence of St. Bonaventure and several bishops. A few years later the Chapel of the Stigmata was erected, paid for by Count Simone of Battifole, near the spot where the miracle took place. The Chiesa Maggiore was begun in 1348, although not finished until 1459.

Greccio abbey

By giove

(2010-11-04)

The town first is first mentioned as Grecce or Grezze in the 11th century, when it had a castle. The castle has now disappeared except for a single tower, which is now the belfry of the church of S. Michele.

Greccio was the place where, in December 1223, St. Francis devised the first living crib (in Italian: presepe). The idea was to discourage would-be pilgrims to go to Bethlehem, as it was a risky adventure, the Holy Land being then under the control of the Turks. The tradition continues there to this day, and a memorial of St. Francis, the Santuario di S. Francesco, may be visited.

Priory Cottages

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-23)

Former monastic buildings converted to 2 houses. The south cottage contains the Great Hall of the original priory.

Rufford Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-16)

The abbey itself was founded by Gilbert de Gant in, or around, 1147. The estate was later granted to the Talbot family, and its residents included George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury. In 1626, the house was sold to Sir George Savile, and later inhabited by his descendant, the Marquess of Halifax.
The Savile family sold the estate during the Great Depression, and it was later acquired by English Heritage. The late 17th century North Wing was demolished in the 1950s.

Ulverscroft Priory

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-10)

Sawley Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-10)

Sawley Abbey was an abbey of Cistercian monks in the village of Sawley, Lancashire, England. It existed from 1147 until its dissolution in 1536, during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Badia Fiorentina

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-09)

The Badìa Fiorentina is an abbey and church of the Fraternity of Jerusalem in Florence, Italy. It is famous for being the parish church of Beatrice Portinari, the love of Dante's life, and the place where he watched her at Mass, for Dante grew up across the street in what is now called the 'Casa di Dante'.

Croxden Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-09)

Easby Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-09)

Binham Priory

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-09)

St Peter's Church

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-09)

St Peter's Church is the former parish church of Barton-upon-Humber, England. It is one of the best known Anglo-Saxon buildings built between 970 and 1030.

Wetheral Priory Gatehouse

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-09)

Wetheral Priory, was founded in 1106 from its motherhouse of St. Mary's Abbey, York. The gatehouse is virtually the only standing remnant of the much grander Priory buildings, and was the main entry into the monastic outer court.

Shap Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-08)

Shap Abbey was built in 1199.

Finchale Priory

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-08)

13th century Benedictine priory.

Isleham Priory Church

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-08)

Isleham Priory Church located in Isleham, Cambridgeshire is a Norman church, built in 1090.

St. John's Commandery

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-08)

The flint-walled 13th-century chapel and hall of a 'Commandery' of Knights Hospitallers.

Knowlton Church and Earthworks

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-07)

Ruined Norman church built within a neolithic henge monument.

Abbotsbury Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-07)

Ruins of an 11th century abbey.

San Juan de la Peña

By LancelotLink

(2010-10-04)

The monastery of San Juan de la Peña is a religious complex and was one of the most important monasteries in Aragon in the Middle Ages. Its two-level church is partially carved in the stone of the great cliff that overhangs the foundation. Legend said that the chalice of the Last Supper (Holy Grail) was sent to the monastery for protection and prevention from being captured by the Muslim invaders of the Iberian Peninsula.

Church of St Petka of the Saddlers

By Dania

(2010-09-25)

The Church of St Petka of the Saddlers (Bulgarian: Църква „Света Петка Самарджийска“) is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

It is a small one-naved building partially dug into the ground located in the very centre of both the modern and the antique city, in the TZUM subway. The church features a semi-cylindrical vault, a hemispherical apse, and a crypt discovered during excavations after the Second World War. The walls are 1 m thick and made from brick and stone.

The church was first mentioned in the 16th century and was constructed at the place of a former Roman religious building. It is today a monument of culture known for its mural paintings from the 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th century depicting biblical scenes.

The church is dedicated to St Petka, an 11th century Bulgarian saint. The Church of Saint Petka acquired its present name due to it being a patron of the saddlers in the Middle Ages, who performed their rituals in the church.

According to one theory, Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski is buried in the church. The theory was supported by the noted research worker of Levski Nikolay Haytov and to an extent backed by the 1956 excavations that discovered several skeletons in the crypt, as well as by press reports from 1937 retelling the stories of those who carried out the burial. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology, however, does not support the view, which led to a harsh controversy in the 1980s that did not end with a conclusive decision.

Lacock Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-09-20)

Lacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order.

Croyland Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-09-19)

Croyland Abbey is an historic building, originally a manor house but now offices, in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
The building is named after Croyland Abbey in Lincolnshire for which it was a local monastic grange from the 10th century. The present structure is Jacobean with later additions. However, visible traces of the medieval grange still exist, perhaps dating from its rebuilding by Abbot Richard in 1281.

Church of St Peter

By Dania

(2010-09-13)

The Church of Saint Peter (St. Peter's Cave Church, Cave-Church of St. Peter) near Antakya (Antioch), Turkey, is composed of a cave carved into the mountainside on Mount Starius with a depth of 13 m, a width of 9.5 m and a height of 7 m. This cave, which was used by the first Christians in the Antakya region, is one of Christianity's oldest churches.

The founding of the church in Antioch can be traced to the Bible's Acts of the Apostles (11:25-27) where it is related that Barnabas travelled to Tarsus to bring Paul the Apostle there. They worked for one year with the nascent Christian community, and there the converts were called Christians for the first time in history. Christian tradition considers Peter, the first Apostle, as the founder of the church of Antioch, and the first priest of the Christian population that was established there; the Church of St. Peter is on the spot where he first preached the Gospel in Antioch.

Only some pieces of floormosaics, and traces of frescoes on the right side of the altar have been preserved that date from the early period of the church. It is thought that the tunnel inside which opens to the mountain side served the Christians to evacuate the church in case of sudden raids and attacks. Water that seeps from the nearby rocks was gathered inside for drinking purposes, and was also used for baptisms. The collection of water, which visitors drank and collected to give to those who were ill (with the belief that it was healing and curative), has lessened as a result of recent earthquakes.

On top of the stone altar located in the middle of the church is a stonework platform that was placed there in memory of the Saint Peter's Platform Holiday which was celebrated every 21 February in Antakya. The marble statue of Saint Peter on top of the altar was placed there in 1932. Crusaders who captured Antakya in 1098 lengthened the church by a few meters and connected it with two arches to the facade. This facade was rebuilt in 1863 by the Capuchin Friars who were doing restoration works on the orders of Pope Pius IX. Napoleon III also contributed to the restoration. The remains on the left hand side of the church entrance belong to colonnades that used to stand in front of the church facade.

Capernaum

By Dania

(2010-09-13)

Capernaum (pronounced /kəˈpɜrneɪ.əm/; Hebrew: כְּפַר נַחוּם‎ Kfar Nahum “Nahum’s village”) was a settlement on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The site is a ruin today, but was inhabited from 150 BC to about AD 750.

Josephus refers to Capernaum as a fertile spring. He stayed the night there after spraining his ankle. It is located in northwestern shore of the Kinneret. A church near Capernaum is said to be the home of Peter himself. Recent excavations have revealed that there are actually two synagogues. The more recent is made of limestone and stands atop the older made of local black basalt. The Romans never came to Capernaum. Of the earlier structure only foundation walls, column and a cobblestone floor are the only things that remain. Capernaum started out as a fishing village, and was inhabited from the 1st century AD to 13th century AD. It had a population of 1,500. There was a small amount of room here but enough room for a synagogue. When Jesus abandoned Nazareth he went to Capernaum and made it into his home. In Capernaum he chose his first four disciples which are followers. Their names were James, John, Peter and Andrew. (Their Hebrew names were יַעֲקֹב, יוֹחָנָן, כֵּיפָא and אַנְדְּרֵי.) During the first Jewish revolt Capernaum was not damaged, and this revolt happened during 66-70.

The town is mentioned in the New Testament: in the Gospel of Luke it was reported to have been the home of the apostles Peter, Andrew, James and John, as well as the tax collector Matthew. In Matthew 4:13 the town was reported to have been the home of Jesus. According to Luke 4:31-44, Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum on Sabbath. In Capernaum also, Jesus healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter's mother-in-law. According to Matthew 8:5-13, it is also the place where a Roman Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant. A building which may have been a synagogue of that period has been found beneath the remains of a later synagogue.

Norton Priory

By LancelotLink

(2010-08-27)

Norton Priory is a historic site in Norton, Runcorn, Cheshire, England, comprising the remains of an abbey complex dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, and an 18th-century country house; it is now a museum. The remains are a scheduled ancient monument and have been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.

Bayham Old Abbey

By LancelotLink

(2010-08-25)

Bayham Old Abbey is an English Heritage property, situated near Lamberhurst, Kent, England. Founded c. 1207 through a combination of the failing Premonstratensian monasteries of Otham and Brockley, Bayham functioned as an abbey until its dissolution in the 16th century.

Thracian Tomb of Sveshtari

By hhgygy

(2010-03-13)

The Thracian Tomb of Svestari (Свещарска гробница, Sveshtarska grobnitsa) is 2.5 km SW of the village of Sveshtari, Razgrad Province. The tomb is likely the grave of Dromichaetes (Ancient Greek: Δρομιχαίτης, romanized: Dromichaites; c. 300 – c. 280 BCE) who was a king of the Getae on both sides of the lower Danube around 300 BCE, and his wife, the daughter of King Lysimachus (Greek: Λυσίμαχος, Lysimachos; c. 360 – 281 BCE) who was a general and diadochus of Alexander the Great. The tomb was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Santa Maria di Collemaggio Abbey

By giove

(2009-12-07)

S. Maria di Collemaggio is a large medieval church in L'Aquila, central Italy. It was the site of the original Papal Jubilee, a penitential observation devised by Pope Celestine V, who is buried here. The church, which therefore ranks as a basilica because of its importance in religious history, sits in isolation at the end of a long rectangular sward of grass at the SW edge of town.

Bar'an Temple

By hhgygy

(2009-12-07)

The Barran Temple (Arabic: معبد بران) is a Sabaean temple near Marib, Yemen; AKA the "Throne of Bilqis", it dates back to the 900s BCE and was dedicated to the god Almaqah.

It's an important site in the study of the archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula. In 2023, along with other landmarks of the ancient Kingdom of Saba, the temple was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Temple of Awwam

By hhgygy

(2009-12-07)

The Temple of Awwam (Arabic: معبد أوام, Sabaean: ????????????), commonly known as Mahram Bilqis (Arabic: محرم بلقيس, Maḥram Bilqīs, lit. 'Sanctuary of Bilqīs'), was the main Sabaean temple dedicated to their national god, Almaqah, and it's the largest known temple complex in South Arabia, situated near Marib in what's now Yemen.

The temple is 7 km SE of ancient Marib, and was built on the outskirts of the city. Although usually major Sabaean sanctuaries are located outside urban centers, its placement was probably for reasons of religious privacy and to facilitate the conduct of rituals by arriving pilgrims from remote areas of Sabaean territories. Nearly 1,00 inscriptions have been discovered from the Temple, comprising the single most important collection of pre-Islamic Arabian inscriptions[ that provide the foundation for reconstructing an outline of the political history of Yemen in its first 3 centuries of the CE.

The temple was in operation from the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE until the 300s CE. Pilgrim rites began at the Harunum Temple, before moving to the Awwam Temple through a processional road connecting the 2 temples.

The Temple of Awwam is 1 of the most important sites in the study of the archaeology of the Arabian Peninsula. In 2023, along with other landmarks of the ancient Kingdom of Saba, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

San Pietro al Conero Abbey

By giove

(2009-12-07)

On the summit of Mount Conero is the Abbey of San Pietro al Conero in the town of Sirolo. Important point of reference for the Benedictines, Camaldolesi and hermits, built in the characteristic stone of Conero, was completed at the beginning of 1200 and partially remodeled in 1651. The crypt dates from the twelfth century, while the bell tower is of the thirteenth century. Interestingly the interior for the richness and variety of sculptural aspects of the columns with capitals carved red limestone from Istria.

Fiastrone gorge

By giove

(2009-10-13)

Upstream of the dam is the main tributary of the Rio Sacro, with the homonymous valley in the Middle Ages was the seat of an abbey of Benedictine monks, St. Salvatore in Rio Sacro.

Downstream of the dam the waters of this river formed a deep gorge, very suggestive, in which lies the Cave of the Friars, which contains within it a hermitage where the monks of the order of Clarena took refuge in the first half of the 2nd millennium.

Macereto sanctuary

By giove

(2009-10-13)

Building in 1529 on a project of Bramante