The Ayers Rock is the kangaroo, an emblem of Australia. This monolith along 3.6 km proudly displays his summit at 348 meters above the sandy plain that supp orte.
It peaks at 867 so meters above sea level It is assumed that the visible part of the rock is only about a third of its mass.
The celebrity of this site is also a result of the diversity of tones that makes the rock by time of day. She is tan-brown in the afternoon, it turns orange at dusk and then goes through a whole series of red before turning black (night, normal). The monolith is composed of sandstone encrusted with minerals and oxidized iron particles that are the origin of these changes in tone.

Aboriginal Culture

The Ayer’s Rock (or Uluru) is a rock sacred to the Aborigines. It contains springs, ponds, caves painted. It is the place for the Anangu ds beliefs that the serpent rainbow sky sleeping in a pool at the top. Through these beliefs, it is no longer too fashionable to climb the rock while it was the highlight of the trip a few years ago.

The Aborigines consider this ascent as a lack of respect towards their customs. On the other hand ascenscion is very hard for slopes up to 60% and should be undertaken by people in good physical condition. In contrast, the top of the rock landscape is magnificent and covers an overview that distinguishes the mountains over 150 miles away.
Walks around the Ayers Rock

Besides the rise on the rock, it is possible to circumnavigate Uluru walk: See Map. The trail is 10 km and consists of 3 or 4 hours if you take the time to admire the caves and cave painters way. This tour is not over run by tourists who prefer to spend the little time they have with organized tours, trying to ascenscion.

Two other small treks are also possible, first the Mala Walk, which starts from the same place as the ascenscion the rock and does not last more than an hour you can see the gorge and cave paintings.

The second, the Mutitjulu walk can walk up to a water hole that is the place for local dispute between two ancestors of snakes.

Commissioned by Manuel I in the XVIth century Belem Tower is the symbol of the Age of Discovery and expansion of Portugal. It was built in the middle of the Tagus River and served to protect the Portuguese capital.
It is decorated with rope carved stone topped by cupolas of Moorish bartizans and battlements shaped shields. The edifice, built by Francisco de Arruda also served as an arsenal and prison.
The Age of Discovery, Manuel I.

The accession to the throne of Manuel I in 1495 coincides with the beginning of the Age of Discovery to the Iberian powers. The Portuguese explorations began with the capture of the city of Ceuta in North Africa, followed by expeditions in Africa and the Atlantic. Before the journey of Vasco de Gamma portugal has therefore already enriched with gold and slaves from the Guinea coast.

The Portuguese were also involved early in the new world after Columbus sailed in 1492 that pout on behalf of Isabella of Castile, Queen of Spain, Brazil was discovered by Pedro Alvares Cabral. The agreement of Tordesillas, overseen by the Pope in 1494 confirms the dominance of the Iberian powers, then the highest in Europe, the America south.
The Spice Route

In general, ships left Lisbon for the Portuguese East India (Cochin, Macau, Goa, Malacca) loaded with gold (one cruzado = 3.58 gr. Gold) for Argentine t, copper, lead, mercury and Mediterranean red coral. Along the way, the carracks added to their initial cargo of gold (one to two tons) in Sofala and Mozambique Island before reaching India. Passengers leaving for very long stays and families easy carrying with them the bulk of their fortunes and valuables. This also greatly increased the initial shipment.

The “Spice Route” followed a route of 7000 miles along the western coast of Africa, rounded the treacherous Cape of Good Hope, dated back over 5000 miles into the Mozambique Channel and Indian Ocean through a monsoon-swept . She kept close to Re cifs Andaman and Nicobar Islands, passed through the Strait of Malacca to Indonesia, China and Philippines. The trip took eight months if conditions were favorable, and the return journey took twenty months for the ships to escape. This route was so dangerous that when carrack Portuguese returned safely to Lisbon, was a national event. Some years passed without a single ship can carry the whole journey back.

The Tower of Belem

Commissioned by Manuel I in the XVIth century Belem Tower is the symbol of the Age of Discovery and expansion of Portugal. It was built in the middle of the Tagus River and served to protect the Portuguese capital.
It is decorated with rope carved stone topped by cupolas of Moorish bartizans and battlements shaped shields. The edifice, built by Francisco de Arruda also served as an arsenal and prison.
The tower was built at the mouth of the Tagus in the district of Belem, no exp Art caravels Portuguese, you can also see the tomb of Vasco da Gamma, a few steps from the tower, the Jeronimos Monastery.
Originally completely surrounded by water, the monument is a aujourdh’ui near the right bank of the river which was enlarged in the nineteenth century. Its architect, Francisco de Arruda was one of the most brilliant Manueline manufacturers. Manueline style variant of Portuguese Gothic architecture is characterized by reasons related to the maritime adventure as the rope, the armillary sphere (navigational instrument and emblem of the manual) or the Cross of the Order of Christ, but also by naturalists and fantastic scenery.

Djenné was founded in the ninth century, making it one of the oldest cities in West Africa. However, its famous mosque was built at the beginning of the twentieth century to replace a similar one, dating from the 11th century and built by King Koi Komboro as a sign of allegiance to the Isl am. The architecture of sun-dried mud is an attractive feature of the Sahel but it is vulnerable to rain and requires annual maintenance which involved all the villagers.

The mosque of Djenne is typical of marriage between Africa and Islam, marriage in which African societies have embraced the religion of Muhammad while maintaining their beliefs and values. The prayer hall, inside the building is covered with a wooden roof supported by pillars about 100.
Visit Djenne

Suite abuses committed by some tourists, the entrance is forbidden to non-Muslims.

A funny detail for other Sudanese style homes in this city: the ornamental wall are represantative stylized phalluses and vaginas showing the number of men and women living in the home.

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The building was begun by Peisistratos, grand son of the tyrant in 515 BC, the site of an ancient temple archaic. The workers had completed the podium about the tyranny was overthrown in 508. This Doric temple was built on the model of those in Asia Minor.

The temple itself was built in the fourth century marble, but was never finished. It will take 175 for that Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria, resume funding. The construction period will introduce the Corinthian style and will be conducted by the Roman architect Cossutius.

The temple was completed during the reigns of Roman emperors Augustus and Hadrian and funded by themselves. Hadrian will open in 131 Er e Christian.

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Architecture.

The temple consisted of two rows of 20 columns on the sides and three rows of eight columns at the ends. It measured 110 meters long and 44 meters wide. He was surrounded by a large open wall on the north by a propylaeum which can still admire the remains.

The interior of the home to two statues chryselephantines Cella (gold and ivory) of Zeus and Hadrian presented as equal. It was also graced by a large number of e statues and offerings.

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The conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity scored (fifth century) the end of the splendor of the temple of Zeus. Its deterioration is continuous cau its natural disasters and human activities. It was under Ottoman rule transformed into a mosque in the open.

Of the 104 original columns, only 16 survived until the mid 19th century. In 1852 a terrible storm felled a new one. She has since left the state.

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The Arch of Hadrian

During the inauguration of the monument, the Romans built an arch in honor of Hadrian, it was erected on the road between the sanctuary and the ancient city it also marked the boundary between the old town and the new Roman city. The 18 meters high monument of the Roman style wedded to its lower part and the classical Greek style on its upper part.

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It yad their inscriptions in Greek on the front of the ark:

West side: This is Athens the ancient city of Theseus. (Theseus founded the city in mythology)

East side: This is the city of Hadrian and not that of Theseus.

Later, this arch was built in the fortification wall and formed an Ottoman Porte.

An invention to the origins of Clepsydra.

This tower was in fact two usages, She had also been built to accommodate a hydraulic clock designed by the Macedonian Syrian Andronicus. To work, she drew water from the nearby source: The Clepsydra. The round turret who was serving contiguous reserve of water. We can see the remains today. The water flowed in during the day and different levels of water allowed to know the time.

Different winds in Athens.

The tower was equipped in antiquity of a conical roof provided with a weather vane depicting a bronze Triton. It indicated one of the eight main wind carved on its eight sides.

It can recognize:

Boreas: north wind, bearded, shaggy hair, wearing a flowing robe made of swirls and holding a conch in his hands.
This: Wind North-East, represented as a bearded man holding a shield and pouring lots of hail.
Apéliote: East Wind, a young man wearing a dress full of fruits and grains.
Euros: Wind Southeast, old man, bearded, draped in a heavy coat for protection from the elements.
Notos: South Wind, a man and causing an urn pouring rain.
Lips: Wind SW, young man hanging from the stern of a ship, promising favorable winds.
Zephyr: West Wind, beardless youth dispersing into the air, flowers in his cloak.
Sciron: Wind Northwest, bearded man sowing hot ashes in a vase of bronze, to signify the beginning of winter.

Under each performance was a sundial which complemented the information from the hourglass by sunny day.

Mosaics.

The town is now famous for its magnificent collection of mosaics preserved almost intact. They come from a small church whose ruins are visible a few hundred yards from the museum. The original layout of the mosaics is exposed on the left image. Full page is visible in photos of Qasr el Libya . At the center dedication commemorating the founding of the church.

On the panels – probably made by local artists inspired by Alexandrian art – the Christian and pagan themes coexist. This actually raises a problem of interpretation for historians: impossible to say whether these representations were purely decorative or loaded with symbolism. These representations can nevertheless be the subject of a thematic classification: the rivers of Paradise, the foundation of the Church, the pagan representations.
The rivers of Paradise.

Some of these panels represent the allegories of rivers which flow Paradise in Christian tradition: the Tigris, Euphrates, and the Gehon Physon. They are just four from the river that watered Eden, tradition sometimes assimilates to the evangelists .

The foundation of the Church and Christian iconography.

Another tétraptyque is the foundation of the church. Besides the allegorical representation of the city gates, we recognize a staging of the recipe: ktisis (“founder authority”) Kosmesis (“Ornament of the Universe”), Ananeosis (“restoration, renewal”). A representation of a facade of Basilica of fish, fishing birds, also belong to Christian iconography.

Pagan iconography

The depiction of the nymph Kastal (a fountain dedicated to the Muses in Boeotia), a triton or even the rare Lighthouse of Alexandria reminds pagan mythology. The Lighthouse of Alexandria is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Raised on the island of Pharos in the second century BC, it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1302.Il icin is topped by a statue of Helios sword that points are on a blunt object: probably maintained by fire top of the building to guide ships. In the second plan, the other statue is probably the colossus built by Pompey in the Serapeum Alexandria.

The legend says it’s Queen Matilda, aided by her ladies, who fashioned for others, it was made, either in Kent or Winchester, Hampshire, twenty or thirty years after the events it recounts.

The Bayeux Tapestry Part

The Bayeux Tapestry from the beginning to the end of the war in Brittany ..

The Bayeux Tapestry, Part II

The Bayeux Tapestry preparation and landing in England ..

The Bayeux Tapestry third-party

The Bayeux Tapestry The Battle of Hastings ..

The Duomo of Milan is the only Gothic cathedral of the Italian peninsula. This architectural style creates island of France in the mid twelfth century took more than a century to spread to Italy. This style is characterized by the key and intersecting ribs that can not support a building that by some parties, pillars, and not by all the walls. The medieval architects were thus able to open large windows into the walls and increase the size of the monuments.
Description of the Cathedral

This cathedral is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world with its 157 meters long and 92 meters wide. Its construction started in 1386 by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, will end in the twentieth century.

Over 2,000 statues and 136 arrows adorn the edifice of marble. Despite its impressive size, its architecture gives an impression of lightness.

Inside the cathedral, however, is rather dark and bare, despite its huge size: 5 naves, 52 pillars of 3.5 meters in diameter each. It contains beautiful stained glass XV and XVI century. It also houses the graves of Otto and John Visconti carved by a master of the fourteenth century.

It is possible to visit the roof of the cathedral, it offers a breathtaking view over the surrounding countryside in the middle of a forest of marble.

The rocky islet, which now houses the monument was early seen as sacred. It housed a mound since the Neolithic. Its stones were used to build the first oratory against the rock in the seventh century.

In 708, the archangel Michael appeared to Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, and orders him to build a chapel on the hill which is dedicated. The archangel would have left traces of his finger on Aubert’s skull. The skull rests in the cathedral of Avranches and bear the scars.

Three days later the bishop actually begin construction.

The sanctuary must be as prescribed by the angel, a replica of Mount Gargano in Italy (fifth century). Aubert did snatch a pagan worship stone found on the Mount and built a sanctuary instead of circular shaped pieces roughly stacked rock. Approximately in 708, Aubert sent monks to seek sanctuary on Mount Gargano in Italy, dedicated to St. Michael, relics of the place. Then, on 16 October 709, the bishop said the dedication of the church and installed a chapter of twelve canons. Le Mont Saint-Michel was né.Les pilgrims begin flocking there to enjoy the protection of St. Michel.

The remains of the chapel were found in the Notre-Dame-Sous-Terre . This shrine is a shrine chapel that housed the tomb of the founder, Aubert and certainly the relics brought back from Mont-Gargan. Chapel Notre-Dame-Sous-Terre is now under the nave of the abbey. It was mainly built of brick in the Roman fashion.

The Hundred Years War

The war e hundred years clash sees the kings of France and England to the throne. Throughout the northern part of France is conquered by the arms. Any? Not as an island has always resisted the invading English and is Mount St. Mi chel it is. Strong fortifications were built around Mt. It is said that the English had developed the technique of attack crab. Unable to move in the sandy bay while “iron clad”. They had to abandon their lower armor. The resemblance is accentuated when the crustacean imagines he would attack on the sand at low tide and somehow escaping the strike on the seat when they got up, chased parl’océan, whose speed can reach 10 km / h at spring tides.

The Abbey

The three levels of the abbey recalls the monastic hierarchy. The monks lived at the top level which included the church, refectory and cloister. Following a fire in the XVIII century part of the abbey was demolished to make way for the western terrace. Guests brand of Abbot were received at the intermediate stage. Soldiers and pilgrims were housed in the chaplaincy, the lower level.
A prison

S nder the revolution, the monks were expelled and the abbey was converted into a prison. This function will save it from destruction. It will enclose a aristocrats, priests and political opponents until 1863, when it was returned to civilian life.
A monument to visit

Since 2001, the monks of the Fraternities of Jerusalem that are installed at Mount and celebrate Mass in the abbey where we come from across the world church pays rent to the French state for loger.Leur presence gives life instead. The Ministry of Culture offers tours exciting conference not to miss if you visit Mt.