The Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall is a striking example of European design located in Dusit Park in Bangkok. It was commissioned by King Rama V in 1906 and built by royal architects Mario Tamagno and Annibale Rigotti in the Neo-Classical style.
Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, Bangkok
This dome of the roof is typical of European structures at the time. Even the beautiful white marble was imported from Carrara in Italy.
A couple of years ago, I went to Warwick Castle for the day.
I love visiting historical places and I can add Warwick Castle as one of the best places to visit.
You’ll find the Peacock Gardens with their beautifully manicured lawns and resident peacocks wandering around.
The Conservatory Tearoom overlooking the fountain.
Then, follow the path through the trees towards the river and the jousting area and Britain’s largest trebuchet. Check the times on your ticket for exciting shows and entertainment every day.
Cross over the river and explore all around the castle.
Enter the castle through its main entrance.
Inside the castle, you can sit on the grass, have a break with a refreshing drink, and take in the impressive architecture.
Make sure you climb the stairs and wander along the ramparts for fabulous views of Warwick and the surrounding countryside.
And, it would be a shame not to see inside some of the rooms where you can learn about some of the castle’s history.
Taken from the leaflet that I picked up at the gallery – This exhibition is in two parts. The first looks at Van Gogh’s experience in London, the art and literature that caught his attention and its role in his journey as an artist. The second explores the impact of Van Gogh’s art and life on British artists up to the 1950s. The exhibition provides an opportunity to view artworks by Van Gogh afresh, to see British culture through his eyes and to see him through the eyes of British artists he inspired.
There were 9 rooms all dedicated to a specific part of Van Gogh’s life including living in London, his interest in black and white prints, moving to Paris, and continuing to paint throughout his mental illness. It was also interesting to see how his paintings inspired and influenced other painters after his death in 1890.
I hope you enjoy this exhibition as much as I did. (Click the photos to see the full image)
My favourites are Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Starry Night and one of his self-portaits.
And, of course, it’s also good to get sneaky pictures of other people doing the same as me.
What are your favourite Van Gogh paintings?
I think the final word goes to the man himself;
“Always continue walking a lot and loving nature for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better. Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see” – Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, London 1874.
I wrote about the wonderful Sagrada Familia last week, so this week, just take a moment to enjoy the beauty and serenity of arguably the best tourist attraction you will ever visit!
Unless you have witnessed the Sagrada Familia for yourself, I would bet that you have never seen anything quite like this before. I said this about Park Guell, but the Sagrada Familia in on another (Gaudi) level!
Antoni Gaudi was put in charge of designing this fabulous basilica in 1883 and it’s not finished yet! If you’d like to read the full history, there is an interesting timeline from the 19th century until the present day on the Sagrada Familia’s official website. One of the longest ever architectural commissions, but in Gaudi’s apparent words “My client is not in a hurry!”
My first glimpse of this impressive building as I walked down Carrer de Sardenya.
Before you even enter the basilica, your gaze will immediately be drawn to the wonderful sculptures on the walls – this being part of the Nativity Facade.
Inside, you won’t know where to look first. I was wide-eyed with wonder and excitement and my mouth spilled out a silent “wow!”
The stone columns throughout the interior have been designed in typical Gaudi style – to resemble a forest with its trees and branches reaching up into the vaults. It really is stunning!
With curved lines to mingle man-made structures with natural forms. This design can also be seen at Park Guell.
Once section of the basilica is also known as the temple of light because the beautifully coloured stain-glassed windows allows natural light to flood in at certain times of the day – creating an ethereal atmosphere.
A view along the nave and aisle.
If you include it in your ticket, you can ascend the stairs to the towers.
There are other, smaller features, that can be easily missed, like this emblem of Saint Luke.
And, as part of the stain-glassed designs, the names of places and people that might have some religious significance.
Outside, you can see the Passion Facade which is dedicated to the Passion of Christ with its pediment of bone-shaped columns at the top.
The 4 spires at the top of the Passion Facade represent 4 of the apostles – James, Thomas, Philip and Bartholomew. (Wikipedia)
The exterior of the basilica is carved with beautiful sculptures and features.
Other spires have bunches of fruit and wheat which represent the Holy Communion.
If you look upwards, you can see the construction work taking place at the top of the building. Once the final tower has been built, the basilica will become the tallest church-building in the world! (Wikipedia)
The Sagrada Familia is still a work-in-progress, but it is due to be completed around 2026 – some 143 years after Gaudi started his masterpiece.
It’s a beauty now and it will take your breath away, but just look at what it’s going to look like!
It’s a definite must-see attraction when you visit Barcelona.
As a photographer, I’m always looking for the ‘not so obvious’ subjects and Park Guell had lots – I just had to keep my eyes open!
Park Guell ceramic medallions on the front of the Porters Lodge .
The ceramic tiles of the wall on either side of the Dragon Stairway.
The ceiling decor of the Hypostyle Room, beautifully created with colourful ceramic tiles.
The house where Gaudi lived – now the Gaudi House Museum.
The fan-shaped fence surrounding the museum.
Park Guell is such a lovely green space with a variety of plants on either side of its walkways – like this one on the way to the Laundry Room Portico.
There are all kinds of flowers, shrubs and trees to see.
The park also attracts a few feathered visitors.
Gaudi was a fan of creating trencadis which is a mosaic made up with broken tile pieces. It’s a feature that is prominent throughout Park Guell.
Gaudi also created features that blend into the natural surroundings – like this curved seating area.
Located on a hillside is Casa Trias which was the only other house that was lived in during Guell and Gaudi’s time in the park.
Because the park is on different levels, you get good views of the park.
And the city beyond.
Until it’s time to leave by the exit on Carrer d’Olot.
For me, it’s fun to find these smaller details, but Gaudi got me intrigued with the big stuff too!
If you are a fan of Gaudi, or not, you should visit Park Guell if you go to Barcelona. It (probably) won’t be like anything you’ve seen before.
A collaboration between entrepreneur, Eusebi Guell, and architect, Antoni Gaudi, saw the creation of Park Guell in 1900. Gaudi wanted Park Guell to be a private estate for rich families, but out of the 60 plots available only 1 was bought, so that idea was abandoned. Guell and Gaudi both lived in the park during the early 20th century and it was opened as a public park in 1926 (www.parkguell.barcelona/en).
Park Guell is a lovely green space, situated on a hill which means it has different levels, and it also has outstanding views over Barcelona and the sea.
Views of Barcelona from Park Guell (with the Sagrada Familia on the left)
I walked from the city to Park Guell and the first thing I saw was the entrance and 2 interesting looking buildings which form the Porter’s Lodge. I think they look like they belong in a fantastical land. Their roofs are mosaiked with ceramic tiles – you’ll see a lot of that in the park.
From the porter’s lodge, you will see the Dragon Stairway.
On either side of the stairway, two tiled walls curve outwards. They are topped with decoratively tiled parapets with a grotto under the one on the right-hand side.
Moving up the stairway, there is a bed of green plants with the stairs on either side.
Further up, another of Gaudi’s creations in the form of a snake’s head bursting forth from the Catalan flag.
Then, a colourful dragon (El Drac), beautifully decorated with trencadis tiles which are a typical Gaudi feature.
At the top of the stairway is the impressive Hypostyle Room with its Doric columns supporting the ceiling.
There are beautiful mosaics on the ceiling.
And, you can sit on a mosaiked bench which runs around the roof for views across the park and city.
The roof of the Hypostyle Room also forms part of the Greek Theatre area.
Gaudi planned for this area to be used for open-air shows but, these days, it’s a good spot to rest for a few minutes. (Parkguell.Barcelona/en).
The bench goes all the way around this open space. Gaudi used a curved design, so it would compliment the natural setting of the park.
The Laundry Room Portico is a fine example of Gaudi’s architecture – the stone work on the columns was cleverly designed to resemble tree trunks.
To connect the different areas of the park, there is a system of roadways, paths and viaducts, again created in a way to mingle man-made structures with natural forms.
Last, but not least, are the Austria Gardens, so named because the different varieties of plants, shrubs and trees were donated from Austria in 1977 (Official website for Park Guell).
I am happy I spent the day wandering around Park Guell – it’s not that big, but it is a true sight to see.
Barcelona is a fabulous city to explore. While you might be drawn to the more famous attractions – think Gaudi and La Rambla – there are plenty of other things to see. But, keep your eyes peeled, if you’re not necessarily seeking other things out, you might miss them – and that would be a shame!
As I explored this lovely city, I found these interesting statues and sculptures.
Along the road from my hotel is the Fountain of Catalan Genius (Font del Geni Català ) dedicated to Francisco Bernaldo de Quirós y Mariño de Lobera, three times Captain General of Catalonia, for having brought the waters of the Moncada mountain range to the city (Wikipedia).
In Parc de la Cuitadella, you’ll see the monument of General Prim – a Spanish general and statesman – (BarcelonaLowDown).
Keep walking and you will come across Placa de Tetuan and the monument to doctor and politician – Bartomeu Robert Yarzábal (Doctor Robert) (BarcelonaLowDown).
Further along Passeig de Sant Joan, you will come to Pla̤a de Moss̬n and the monument of Jacint Verdaguer Рa 19th century Catalan / Spanish writer, regarded as one of the greatest poets of Catalan literature (Wikipedia).
In the Gothic Quarter, these two interesting metal sculptures caught my eye.
Head to Placa de Catalunya to see the Franscesc Macia monument – Franscesc Macia was a Spanish politician from Catalonia who served as the 122nd president of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and formerly an officer in the Spanish Army (Wikipedia).
Before you even get to the end of La Rambla, you will see the monument to Christopher Columbus. It was constructed for the Exposición Universal de Barcelona (1888) to commemorate Columbus’ first voyage to the Americas (Wikipedia).
