News of the Planet

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T17:16:00.002-02:00

I thank all the readers who have accompanied me during 2011.

As the last photograph of the year, I present an image of the most beautiful city that I have ever photographed in my life:

For 2012, I am planning two photographic excursions: to the United States and to Portugal!

I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Images of the Loire Valley - 3

2011-12-25T21:55:00.003-02:00

Palace of Cheverny

The Palace of Cheverny is located in the municipality of Cheverny, Loir-et-Cher, France.

The palace, built in the early 17th century, is one of the most beautiful of the Loire Valley.

Hergé, the creator of the Tintin stories, was inspired by the architecture of this palace to create the fictional Palace of Moulinsart.

A visit to the various localities of the Loire Valley and its palaces brings the certainty of recording beautiful images.

Images of the Loire Valley - 2

2011-12-14T00:21:00.002-02:00

Palace of Chenonceau

The Palace of Chenonceau is located in the small village of Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire, France, and was built across the River Cher at the site of an old mill.

Built in the early 16th century, the palace housed kings, queens, mistresses of kings and families of the French nobility until the mid 19th century.

During the First World War, part of the palace was used as a hospital.

In the interior of the palace we can see historic furniture and works of art.

Gardens designed in the 16th century are situated near the palace and are protected from the floodings of the River Cher by elevated terraces.

The Palace of Chenonceau is one of the main attractions of the Loire Valley and an excellent subject for architectural photography.

Images of the Loire Valley - 1

2011-12-11T23:12:00.001-02:00

Palace of Chambord

The Palace of Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, is one of the world's most recognizable palace for its French Renaissance style.

The largest palace in the Loire Valley was built by King François I. Construction began in 1519 and lasted 20 years.

The palace was not designed to provide protection for the occupants, consequently the walls and towers are merely decorative.

The many towers of the palace of Chambord are often compared to the skyline of a city. There are eleven kinds of towers and three types of chimneys, not symmetrical, limited by large towers at the four corners of the palace.

The palace is amidst an area of 52 km2 of wooded park surrounded by a wall 31 km long.

A remarkable architectural feature is the double-helix staircase in the center of the palace. The two helixes ascend the three floors without ever meeting. The staircase is illuminated from above by a light source at the highest point of the palace.

The palace has 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases.

The Palace of Chambord is now a major tourist attraction of France and an excellent subject for architectural photography.

Images of Mont Saint-Michel - 3

2011-12-07T19:00:00.001-02:00

UNESCO has classified Mont Saint-Michel as a Heritage Site in 1979.

The tides in the area can change quickly and may vary 15 meters between the higher and lower levels.

In the spring, sea waters may reach a distance of 15 km away from the coast. It is too dangerous to venture a walk on the area around the rocky island.

Mont Saint-Michel is a tourist mecca and receives more than three million visitors a year.

A visit to Mont Saint-Michel is a special gift for the photographer.

Images of Mont Saint-Michel - 2

2011-12-06T19:00:00.003-02:00

In the 13th century, a gift of the King of France, enabled the construction of two three-story buildings, crowned by a cloister.

In the 14th century, during the Hundred Years War, it became necessary to protect the monastery with walls and military buildings that allowed the resistance to a siege that lasted 30 years.

The monastery was turned into a prison during the French Revolution and the French Empire, and had to be restored by the end of the 19th century.

Parallel to the construction of the monastery, a village has developed since the Middle Ages.

The village flourished in the southeast side of the rocky island surrounded by the walls built during the Hundred Years War and it has always had a commercial vocation.

(to be continued)

Images of Mont Saint-Michel - 1

2011-12-05T19:00:00.003-02:00

The Mont Saint-Michel is a rocky island located 1 km off the coast of Normandy, France. The island has been a strategic point of fortification since antiquity.

In prehistoric times, the island was surrounded by land that has been eroded after the rise of the sea levels.

In the year 709 a small church was built and consecrated on the rocky island. In 966 a community of Benedictine monks settled on the island, at the request of the Duke of Normandy and a pre-Romanesque church was built on the site before the year 1000.

In the 11th century, the abbey church was founded over a set of crypts at the top of the rocky island and the first buildings of the monastery were built against its north wall.

In the 12th century, the Romanesque monastery buildings were extended to the west and south.

(to be continued)

Images of Trier

2011-11-20T19:00:00.002-02:00

Founded by Emperor Augustus in 16 BC as Augusta Treverorum, Trier is perhaps the oldest city in Germany. For nearly five centuries the city has been one of the centers of power of the Roman Empire and became known as "Roma Secunda" (Second Rome).

A great number of Roman constructions impresses the visitor. One of the attractions is the "Porta Nigra" (picture below) which was a gate of a defensive wall that surrounded the ancient city.

In the 11th century, the gate was adapted and transformed into a church. Additional structures were attached to the original one, including a tower. When Napoleon conquered the region, he had almost all additional structures removed. Thus the gate could be seen again after centuries.

The church of St. Peter (images below), has been built around of a Christian Roman church from 350 AD which still exists inside the temple. The additions have been made between the 11th and 13th centuries.

The Basilica of Constantine (images below) was built in 310 AD as the throne room and reception place of the Roman Emperor Constantine, when he visited the city.

Although Trier suffered several damages during hystory, including a bombing in World War II, the construction impresses for its state of preservation. Today the site is a Protestant church. In the place where now stands the altar, stood the throne of Emperor Constantine.

There is also in Trier, impressive ruins of Roman baths.

Occupying an area of 260 x 140 meters, the Roman baths (including underground networks of hot water and sewer) were rediscovered after World War II.

In addition to the buildings left by the Romans, there are more recent ones in the historic center that attract the eyes of visitors.

There are many interesting subjects for a photographer in Trier.

Images of the City of Luxembourg - 3

2011-11-19T20:47:00.004-02:00

Ending the series on the city of Luxembourg, see below some images with different subjects, described from left to right.

Images of the large park that surrounds the historical center.

Historic building; the contrast between modern and old buildings.

Commerce in the historical center, public concert in a town square.

Detail of a bridge that crosses a valley; view of a historical building with a peculiar formation of clouds in the background.

Images of the City of Luxembourg - 2

2011-11-15T21:40:00.002-02:00

The city of Luxembourg is cut by valleys that are occupied by centuries old houses.

The rivers Alzette and Pétrusse, which run through the valleys, make their confluence in the city.

The average depth of the valleys is about 70 meters to the upper plateau of the city.

A walk through the valleys makes us forget the movement and noise of the modern city on the upper plateau and is a special gift for the photographer.

Images of the City of Luxembourg - 1

2011-11-13T19:37:00.002-02:00

With a history dating back to the Roman Empire, the City of Luxembourg, capital of the homonymous country, has about 100,000 inhabitants.

Geographically situated in a uneven region, the city is cut by a valley with steep cliffs and occupies several topographic levels.

The valley is crossed by several bridges like the famous Pont Adolphe, below left.

Large areas of Luxembourg City are maintained as parks, forest areas or as a World Heritage Site.

Images of Brussels - 4

2011-11-12T21:38:00.002-02:00

Mini Europe

Mini Europe is a park with miniatures of historic buildings from all over Europe, situated on the outskirts of Brussels. The images below are described from left to right.

The Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, and the Palace of El Escorial, Spain, with the Atomium monument in the background.

The Tower of Pisa, Italy, and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur, Paris, France.

The Parthenon, Athens, Greece, and the Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy.

The Arc of Triumph, Paris, France and the Tower of Belém, Lisbon, Portugal.

Images of Brussels - 3

2011-11-06T19:00:00.002-02:00

The Atomium

On the outskirts of Brussels, we can find the Atomium, a monument built for the 1958 International Exhibition of Brussels.

The monument represents a molecule of iron (enlarged 165 billion times). It is 102 meters high and it has nine steel spheres connected by tubes. Each sphere is 18 meters in diameter. An elevator, in the central vertical tube, takes the visitors to the highest sphere, allowing a 360-degree view of Brussels.

Some tubes have escalators that take visitors to other spheres where there are exhibits and a cafeteria. There is a restaurant in the highest sphere.

Interesting images can be registered in the park "Mini Europe" with the Atomium in the background (images below).

Images of Brussels - 2

2011-11-05T17:37:00.002-02:00

Center of Brussels

In a photo tour through the center of Brussels, we can register images of squares like the Hill of the Arts Garden (below left), the St. Hubert shopping arcade, built in the 19th century (below, right) ...

... the Royal Palace of Brussels (below, left), the Royal Museum of Fine Arts (below right), ...

... art of comics in the walls of buildings (below, left and center), the original statue of Manneken Pis (below right), ...

... modern avenues and historical buildings.

At the end of the day, with luck, we can visualize the sunset in the historic center.

Images of Brussels - 1

2011-10-22T19:06:00.002-02:00

The Grand Place of Bussels

Brussels is the capital of Belgium and also the administrative center of the European Union, with about 1.1 million inhabitants.

The Grand Place is a major attraction of Brussels and is located in the historic center.

We can see historic buildings such as the King's Mansion (images above) and ...

... the Brussels City Hall (images above) built in the early 15th century, which has a tower 96 meters high.

The Grand Place is a World Heritage Site of UNESCO and offers the opportunity to record great images of architecture.

Images of Damme

2011-10-08T17:45:00.002-03:00

Damme is a municipality in Belgium located 6 km from Bruges.

In the 13th century, Dame was the port of Bruges, to which was linked by the river Reie.

The river was transformed into a long straight channel with trees planted along the banks, which still links Bruges to Damme.

A canal tour is an opportunity for the recording of images commonly portrayed by the classic Flemish artists.

Images of Bruges - 5

2011-09-30T19:00:00.002-03:00

Around Bruges

The Minnewater Park in Bruges is a special gift for the photographer.

Minnewater is channeled lake that was used as a reservoir to maintain the constant level of the canals of Bruges.

The area is surrounded by trees, trails, bridges and buildings that offer great opportunities for registering beautiful images.

The quiet area of Begijnhof, occupied by Benedictine nuns, is an oasis of tranquility in the city.

One entrance to the Begijnhof area is accessed by a bridge in a place of rare beauty.

Images of Bruges - 4

2011-09-25T17:41:00.002-03:00

Church of Our Lady

The Church of Our Lady, in Bruges, was built between the 13th and 15th centuries.

Its tower with 122 meters is the tallest structure in the city and the second tallest tower made of bricks in the world.

The church has an artistic treasure that is the marble sculpture of the Madonna and Child made by Michelangelo in 1504.

The sculpture was recovered twice in history, having been withdrawn by French occupation forces in 1794 and by the Nazis in 1944.

Images of Bruges - 3

2011-09-24T18:36:00.002-03:00

Bucolic Places

Bruges is the perfect place to record images of bucolic places.

The architectural ensemble with hundreds of years, along the canals, is an inexhaustible source of images.

In the historic center you can find places like the Begijnhof (image below right) ...

... and quiet residential streets.

Images of Bruges - 2

2011-09-19T00:36:00.002-03:00

Canals of Bruges

Bruges is sometimes called the "Venice of the North" for its canals.

Although not as large as Amsterdam, the network of Bruges canals crosses the historic center forming a harmonious ensemble with the city's architecture.

A walk along the canals offers an endless supply of beautiful images for the photographer.

In particular, the bridges along the canals are excellent subjects for photography.

During the warmer months, it is possible to navigate in the canals.

Rarely, during the winter, the canals freeze. On these occasions, residents and visitors have fun skiing along some sections of the canals.

Images of Bruges - 1

2011-09-17T02:36:00.004-03:00

Market Square

The city of Bruges, Belgium, with its medieval architecture, is a paradise for the photographer.

The Market Square is located in the heart of the city.

The site is a focal point of Bruges, with historic buildings, cafes and restaurants.

The construction that stands out in the Market Square is the medieval tower of Belfort, built in the 13th century.

An internal staircase of 366 steps takes the visitors to the observatory atop the tower, which is 83 meters high.

Images of Antwerp - 4

2011-09-11T19:17:00.002-03:00

Het Steen

Het Steen is a medieval fortress in the historic center of Antwerp, on the river Scheldt.

The fortress was completed in the early 13th century and played an important role in the defense of the city until the 19th century.

The images below show three views of the tower of the Cathedral of Antwerp.

Images of Antwerp - 3

2011-09-10T19:42:00.004-03:00

Central Station

The Central Train Station of Antwerp stands out in the center of Antwerp.

The building was inaugurated in 1905 and replaced an older station.

A large dome is located above the main waiting room.

Images of Antwerp - 2

2011-09-09T22:34:00.002-03:00

Historic Center

The Grote Markt is situated at the heart of Antwerp.

The 16th century square is surrounded by historical buildings.

A fountain with mythological sculptures is situated at the center of the square.

Near the Grote Markt there are many opportunities to record images of the buildings of the historic center.

Images of Antwerp - 1

2011-09-07T18:58:00.002-03:00

Cathedral of Antwerp

Antwerp is one of the main cities of Belgium with half a million inhabitants. The city has one of the major ports of Europe.

One of the main buildings of the city is the Cathedral of Our Lady, which had its construction started in 1352.

The cathedral tower is 123 meters high and is the highest in Belgium. The original project foresaw the construction of two towers, but the second one has never been completed.

The interior of the cathedral has numerous works of art by famous artists.

Images of Keukenhof

2011-09-04T19:14:00.002-03:00

Keukenhof is one of the largest flower parks of the world situated in the Netherlands.

The park is open for nine weeks a year, between March and May.

Keukenhof is one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands and was founded 60 years ago in a hunting area of the 15th century.

The park occupies an area of 32 hectares and features more than 4.5 million tulips of 100 varieties.

The park has about 15 km of trails.

Seven million flowers are planted each year by hand.

The area has about 2,500 trees of 87 varieties.

A visit to Keukenhof Park is a special gift for the photographer.

Images of The Hague - 2

2011-08-27T20:15:00.002-03:00

Scheveningen is a district of The Hague and a modern seaside resort, with hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and a pier.

The Kurhaus is a historical construction and sophisticated hotel on the beach of Scheveningen that stands out among the other buildings.

A modern pier stands out on the beach of Scheveningen.

From a tower of the pier, it is possible to register panoramic images of this Dutch coastal region.

Images of The Hague - 1

2011-08-24T23:12:00.002-03:00

The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands, where a preserved historical center is located close to modern skyscrapers.

The impressive complex of buildings of Binnenhof is situated in the historic center. This is the site of the Dutch parliament since the 15th century.

The lake Hofvijver is located near the Dutch parliament. It is a place where we can capture fine images.

Beside the Dutch parliament, we can find the former house of Maurice of Nassau, who was the governor of Dutch Brazil, during a short period in the 17th century. The building is now an art museum.

Images of Zaanse Schans

2011-08-20T15:07:00.003-03:00

Zaanse Schans is a village on the banks of river Zaan with historic windmills, typical wooden houses and shops of typical items of the Netherlands.

The village was created with the displacement of houses, mills and shops of various locations in the Netherlands in order to form a typical village of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Among the shops you can find a small factory of typical Dutch wooden shoes.

The Zaanse Schans village can be somewhat artificial but it offers the opportunity of capturing images of the past of the Netherlands.

For those who want a quiet place to stroll or simply let the hours pass, this is the perfect place.

Images of Amsterdam - 5

2011-08-11T19:00:00.002-03:00

Watch the video produced with images captured in Amsterdam, in 2011.

http://youtu.be/ZACkHEJwyms

Click in the bookmark "My Memories of the Netherlands" to see photographs of this voyage.

Images of Amsterdam - 4

2011-08-10T20:01:00.002-03:00

Various subjects

At the heart of Amsterdam you can find a wide variety of shops.

It is common to find on sale flowers, seeds and plants, some of which can not be legally sold in other parts of the world.

Amsterdam residents love bikes. There is a priority for their circulation throughout the city. We can see them parked everywhere.

In some canals, boats were turned into houses with all the services for water, electricity, phone, etc.

We can find many bucolic and photogenic places around the city.

A visit to Amsterdam is a gift for the photographer.

Images of Amsterdam - 3

2011-08-09T20:51:00.002-03:00

People

Vondelpark is a public park in Amsterdam.

The park was inaugurated in 1865. It receives 10 million visitors yearly.

There we can find large wooded areas and lakes.

The park is an oasis in the center of Amsterdam.

Queensday is a national holiday when the birthday of the queen is commemorated.

Locals and visitors flood the streets.

Images of Amsterdam - 2

2011-08-08T19:00:00.003-03:00

Amsterdam Architecture

Amsterdam has a rich architectural history. The oldest construction in Amsterdam is the Old Church (Oude Kerk) consecrated in 1306.

The Old Church is a center for both religious and cultural activities and can be rented for presentations and receptions.

Most of the constructions in the center of Amsterdam were built in the Dutch renaissance architecture style, with stepped façades.

This style can be seen in Begijnhof, a group of historic buildings situated around a courtyard, in the center of Amsterdam.

The constructions built in the Middle Age belonged to a feminine religious order. Now, most of them are private properties.

The Amsterdam towers are a special subject to be explored by the photographer.

Images of Amsterdam - 1

2011-08-07T19:48:00.004-03:00

Canals of Amsterdam

Amsterdam has been called "Venice of the North" for its canals.

The city has more than 100 km of canals, 90 islands and 1,500 bridges.

Most part of the canals system was planned and built in the first half of the 17th century.

The network of canals has been designed with four main canals in a half circle shape.

There are also radial canals.

The network has been designed for transportation of goods and for defense.

The canals of Amsterdam are extremely photogenic and offer great opportunities for the photographer.

Selected Images of the Tour 2011

2011-08-06T10:47:00.002-03:00

Do not miss, from tomorrow on, posts of selected and edited images of the Tour 2011.

Images include cities and places of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France.

Be welcome!

Video: A Visit to the Monastery of Montserrat

2011-07-10T18:29:00.000-03:00