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Top Historic Sites in Europe, Part 6

Erin — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:04:19 +0000

Welcome to Part 6 of my Top Historic Sites in Europe series! I’m glad you came back to check out some more fantastic sites. So far we’ve done the top historic sites from 50 countries in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5 and today you’ll get to see the last three countries along with seven bonus sites! I have really loved learning more about these countries along with the significance of some of their historic sites and I’m so excited to share this with you. With a recorded history going back over 37,000 years, there are just way too many fascinating places to see them all. That’s why I’ve partnered with other travel bloggers to find out which sites are of the most historic and significant importance for each of these countries. I hope you’ll enjoy what we’ve put together. Monaco – Monaco Palace Monaco Palace is formally known as the Prince’s Palace in Monaco and was first built as a Genoese fortress in 1191. In 1297, the Grimaldi family captured the fortress through the deception of Francois Grimaldi and made it their stronghold as feudal lords. In the 17th century, the Grimaldi family became sovereign rulers. Before becoming sovereign rulers, the Grimaldi family had to go through a series of the usual hardships of the era. During the 1330s, Charles Grimaldi the First strengthened the fortress and made it strong enough to withstand over 100 years worth of attacks from Genoa, Pisa, Venice, Naples, France, Spain, Germany, England and Provence. Between the 1340s and 1370s, the fortress frequently changed hands between the Grimaldi family and the Genoese and in the end, the Grimaldi family was able to retain ownership of the property. In the 15th century, the fortress was expanded enough to accommodate roughly 400 soldiers as well as the addition of several buildings and a large new wing that signified the beginning of the fortress becoming a palace. While Monaco Palace has been the seat of the Grimaldi family, they have not always resided there. The Grimaldi family were absentee rulers from 1662 through the mid 1700s, choosing instead to live in France at Versailles. In 1793, the family lost the Palace for a short period during the French Revolution while they were placed in exile. In 1814, the Treaty of Paris saw Monaco returned to the Grimaldi family, where it has remained ever since, though not always as a primary residence. Various descendants of the Grimaldi family have chosen to live either at the family estate of Le Marchais outside Paris or in Germany. Prince Rainier III began extensive renovations on the palace starting in 1949 and the family once again returned to the palace that has been their seat of power for over 700 years. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. Wales – Cardiff Castle Cardiff Castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century Roman fort. The castle was originally built with wood and stone, but in the 12th century it was rebuilt completely in stone. These stones were strong enough to withstand multiple attacks by the Anglo-Normans and the Welsh. In 1423, Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, conducted extensive renovations and added the main range on the west side of the castle along with the tall octagonal tower that is seen there today. Around the 1490s, Cardiff Castle began to have less significance as a military outpost, though it wasn’t until the 1550s that the castle began being transformed into a residential property. 1642 saw the castle change hands when Parliamentary forces overran the grounds during the English Civil War, though Royalists regained the property in 1645. The castle was again fought over during the Second English Civil War in 1648 and was almost destroyed by Parliament after the war, but it was eventually decided to garrison troops on the grounds as protection against the Scottish. In the 18th century, the Marquess of Bute. John Stuart, received the castle when he married Charlotte Jane Windsor, daughter of Thomas, Viscount Windsor. After receiving the newly created peerage title of Marquess in the mid-1770s, John Stuart began renovating Cardiff Castle. Several stone walls were removed, a hall and the knights’ houses were demolished, and the grounds were flattened to allow for turf. The main part of the castle had sections removed, two new wings added, and various features updated. The grounds had trees and greenery removed, the moat was filled, and a summer house was built. The castle remained the same until 1868 when the third Marquess of Bute decoded to remodel the castle. It had sat mostly empty since 1814 with only occasional occupants, leading to a low level of disrepair. The third Marquess of Bute added a 150-foot clock tower that contained a lavishly decorated bedroom, servant’s quarters, and smoking rooms. Various other rooms were added to the castle at this time, including the Guest Tower, Arab Room, Chaucer Room, nursery, library, roof garden, Banqueting Hall and bedrooms. All of these rooms were heavily gilded with elaborate carvings, paintings, accents, and stained glass. The grounds were also heavily altered to remove any trace of medieval or Roman times and reinstall the trees and shrubberies which were previously removed. In 1921, the fourth Marquess of Bute restored the masonry to what it was in medieval times and rebuilt various gates and towers that had been part of the original castle. He allowed archaeological investigations of the property to discover Roman walls, which led to the redesign of other buildings which were restored. He also tore out the grand staircase that had been added in the 19th century. Further restorations were carried out after 1947 when the castle was handed over to the city of Cardiff. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. Ukraine – Kiev Pechersk Lavra Kiev Pechersk Lavra is also known as the Monastery of the Caves. It is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery which gave its name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev. This Monastery was founded in 1051 by an Orthodox monk named Anthony who hailed from an Esphigmenon monastery on Mount Athos. He chose a cave in the Besetov Mountains overlooking the Dnieper River and was eventually granted the entire mountain by Prince Iziaslav I, at which point the monastery was built by architects from Constantinople. This monastery became the preeminent center of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. In conjunction with the nearby Saint Sophia Cathedral, this monastery has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main church of the monastery of Dormition Cathedral. The original monastery was built in the 11th century, but was unfortunately destroyed in 1941 when German Nazis occupied the city. There is debate about whether the Germans destroyed the monastery while taking over the city or if the Russians were responsible while enacting the Khreshchatyk explosions to blow up all the bridges in Kiev. While we many never know who was truly responsible for destroying an ancient masterpiece, the structure has been reconstructed to fit its original design. Along with the beautiful monastery, Pechersk Lavra boasts several other architectural marvels. The All Saints Church erected between 1696–1698 is a stunning example of Ukrainian Baroque architecture. Characteristic of the church facades are rich architectural embellishments. In 1905 students of the Lavra art school painted the interior walls of the church. The carved wooden iconostasis is multi-tiered and was made for the All Saints church in the early 18th century. The Gate Church of the Trinity is located atop the Holy Gates, which houses the entrance to the monastery. According to a legend, this church was founded by the Chernihiv Prince Sviatoslav II. It was built atop an ancient stone church which used to stand in its place. In 1718, a fire destroyed the church, but it was quickly rebuilt, its facades and interior walls decorated with ornate stucco work made by V. Stefaovych. In the 18th century, a new gilded pear-shaped dome was built, the facade and exterior walls were decorated with stucco-moulded plant ornaments, and a vestibule built of stone attached to the north end. In the early 20th, century the front and the walls flanking the entrance were painted by icon painters under the guidance of V. Sonin. The interior of the church also contains murals by the early 18th century painter Alimpy Galik. The Great Lavra Bell Tower was designed by Johann Gottfried Schädel. This structure is 96.5 meters in height and was the tallest free-standing bell tower at the time of its construction in 1731–1745. The refectory chambers with the Church of the Saints Anthony and Theodosius is the third in a series of temples. The original temple was built in the 12th century and no drawings or visual depictions of it remain. The second temple was built at the time of the Cossack Hetmanate and was disassembled by the Russian authorities in the 19th century. It was replaced with the current temple, often referred to as the Refectory Church of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. BONUS SITES We’ve hit all the countries in Europe and given some history about the top site for each country, but it’s always hard to pick just one. Here are 7 more sites you won’t want to miss. Romania – Bran Castle Bran Castle is famously known as Dracula’s Castle. It is located on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia in Romania. The first structure to sit on this site was the castle of Dietrichstein, which Teutonic Knights built out of wood in 1212. This castle was destroyed by Mongols in 1242. In 1377, Louis I of Hungary gave Saxons permission to build a stone castle on the site, which was eventually used in defense against the Ottoman Turks in 1438-1442. When it wasn’t being used defensively, the castle was a customs post for those who traveled the mountain pass between Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1533, the City of Brasov took possession of the castle as payment for outstanding loans made to King Vladislas of Hungary. From that time forward, the castle played a militarily strategic role up to the mid-18th century. The next notable event in the castle’s history was in 1920 when the Treaty of Trianon granted Transylvania to Romania, along with Bran Castle, which became the royal residence in Romania. Queen Marie ordered extensive restoration work on the castle to bring it back to its medieval splendor. During WWII, the castle was used as a hospital before it was seized by the communist regime in 1948. At this time the royal family was exiled from Romania. It wasn’t until 2005 that the castle was returned to the Habsburg family who then carried out further restorations before opening the castle as the first private museum in Romania in 2009. Erin Tracy is the owner and author of this blog, Traveling Thru History, which she uses to share her love of history, culture, and travel with her readers. You can also find stories and pictures of her travels on her Facebook page. Greece – Erechtheion The Erechtheion (also called Erechtheumis) an ancient Greek temple on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens in Greece. The Persians had destroyed much of the city during an invasion, so Pericles, the general of Athens from 461-429 BC, commissioned two men to restore the damaged buildings atop the Acropolis. Along with restoring the sacred religious building the Persians had destroyed, Pericles also requested that they build another building, The Erechtheion. The purpose for the Erechtheion is...

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Top Historic Sites in Europe, Part 3

Erin — Tue, 26 Dec 2017 14:00:32 +0000

Welcome to Part 3 of my Top Historic Sites in Europe series! I’m glad you came back to check out some more fantastic sites. So far we’ve done the top historic sites from 20 countries in Parts 1 and 2 and today you’ll get to see 10 more in Part 3! I have really loved learning more about these countries along with the significance of some of their historic sites and I’m so excited to share this with you. With a recorded history going back over 37,000 years, there are just way too many fascinating places to see them all. That’s why I’ve partnered with other travel bloggers to find out which sites are of the most historic and significant importance for each of these countries. I hope you’ll enjoy what we’ve put together today. Belgium – Bruges Market Square and Belfry Bruges (or Brugge) is deservedly one of the most popular cities to visit in Belgium. The city experienced its golden age during the late medieval period, between the 12th and 15th centuries, during which time Bruges was one of the busiest ports in the world. However, when the river channel leading into Bruges began to fill with silt, the city gradually lost its importance, along with much of its population. Soon, all that was left of the city that was once Belgium’s crown jewel were its beautiful medieval buildings. It was these historic buildings that first attracted tourists in the late 19th century, and brought new life back to the city. At the heart of Bruges lie multiple squares, home to the most important buildings of the city, with the largest square being the Markt, or Market Square. Regular markets have been held in this square since the 10th century and are still held to this day. Surrounding the square are impressive guild houses, including the Provincial Palace, the Cloth Hall and towering above all, the Belfry. The Belfry of Bruges is one of the most famous sites in Belgium. Belfries were a type of medieval bell tower used throughout the region of Flanders and the neighboring Duchy of Burgundy in France. Along with tolling the hours and half hours, they also served as a source of civic pride to the cities and towns, separate from the landmarks built by the church and feudal lords. Along with being an important bell tower, the Belfry of Bruges housed the city’s treasury and archives and was used as a watch tower to keep an eye out for fires and other dangers. The Belfry in Bruges dates back to the mid 13th century. It was first built in 1240, but was heavily damaged by a fire in 1280, after which it was rebuilt. Unfortunately, the archives house inside the belfry were destroyed during that same fire. The belfry has stayed mostly the same since it was rebuilt in 1280. An octagonal top was added in the late 1400s along with a wooden spire holding an image of St. Michael holding a banner while standing atop a dragon, this addition was struck by lightning in 1493, which resulted in the destruction of the octagonal top and the belfry’s bells. Another wooden spire was added shortly thereafter, but it, too, was destroyed by fire in 1741. It wasn’t until 1822 that the Gothic stone parapet was added to the top, which has stood, undamaged, ever since. When you visit Market Square, it’s possible to climb to the top of the Belfry of Bruges and take in a magnificent panoramic view of the city. Halfway up you’ll reach the Treasury, which is where the city’s charters, seal and public funds were kept during the Medieval period. And, at the very top, is the chamber for the bells – all 47 of them! Even if you don’t climb the tower, the market square is one of the best places in Bruges to dine out any time of the day, or just settle for a drink, with the square these days lined with restaurants. Or just stop by one of the many gelato shops and relax by the fountain, taking in the beautiful surroundings. Shandos Cleaver is the founder and blogger-in-chief of Travelnuity, a travel blog focused on dog-friendly travel around the world. She’s currently travelling around Europe with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, and shares about their adventures on Facebook. Belarus – Mir Castle Mir Castle is one of the most renowned fortifications in Belarus. Construction on what would eventually become Mir Castle took place during the early 1400s in an area which was then called the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This private estate remained in the Gedyegoldovish family for roughly 60 years before it fell into the hands of Duke Yury Ilinich. Due to political ambitions and regional hostilities, Duke Ilinich decided to build a fortress castle in what is now called the Belarusian Gothic style. The way Mir Castle was built is unique. The five 25-foot high towers of the castle were planned as independent centers of resistance that were capable of supporting adjacent towers. Each tower was designed so that the towers next to it could deliver flanking fire to increase defensive capabilities. One construction aspect of note is that the tower walls were designed with three layers: the two outside layers are made of brick and stone while the middle layer is made up of small stones and broken bricks. Unfortunately, neither Duke Ilinich nor any member of his family ever saw the completion of Mir Castle. Within 40 years, the entire Ilinich family was gone. Duke Ilinich’s grandson left the Mir Estate to his cousin, Prince Mikolaj Krzysztof Radziwill, in whose family the estate remained for the next three centuries. Prince Radziwill finished construction of Mir Castle by adding two three-story living quarters to the northern and eastern walls of the castle and rebuilt three of the towers. He also added a fortified gate to the entrance. Over the centuries, Mir Castle has gone through multiple periods of grandeur and decay, as well as surviving many conflicts. Several restorations have been done over the years, but it wasn’t until 1922 that a full-scale extensive restoration was undertaken, which took 16 years. Sadly, Mir Castle was taken by the Germans during WWII and used as a ghetto for roughly 800 Jews who lived nearby. After Belarus was liberated by the Allies in July 1944, Mir Castle was used as a refuge for the hundreds of Mir residents whose homes had been destroyed during the war. The last of the families staying in the castle left in 1962 and it once again fell into disrepair. In 1983, another extensive restoration was done on Mir Castle and it was opened to the public on December 16, 2010. Nowadays, Mir Castle is a living museum of history as well as a venue for cultural festivals and events. Mir Castle was one of the highlights of my visit to Belarus. It has a nice lake and park on its territory, which are the most enjoyable during warm months. The entrance to the territory, parks, lake is free. To visit museums inside the castle, you need to get a ticket. One day per month (last Wednesday of the month, as a rule) there is a free entry for everyone. Budget traveler, Eastern European, living with local people in India to explore the country from a different angle! Beyond traveling, Natalia is an events & marketing specialist by day and a blogger at My Trip Hack. Twitter: https://twitter.com/mytriphack Albania – Ruins of Apollonia and the Church of St. Mary Apollonia was founded in 588 BC by Greek colonists and named after the god Apollo (not very original as there were 23 other Apollonias along the Mediterranean coast). This Apollonia was the biggest and most important of them all, with a population of 60,000, a record in ancient times. Over the next 800 years, it became a major port for slaves, agriculture, pottery and asphalt. Due to the slave trade, Apollonia rose to become an important city-state: the city minting its own coins and, in 229 BC, became a Roman Protectorate. Apollonia supported Julius Caesar during the Roman Civil War of the 1st century and was rewarded with the title of “Free City,” meaning it didn’t pay tax to Rome. Under Roman rule, Apollonia also became a major centre of learning. Julius Caesar even sent his nephew Octavius, the future Emperor Augustus, to study here. Unfortunately, an earthquake in the third century changed everything for Apollina. Due to the changed landscape from the earthquake, the course of the Vjosa river changed, causing the harbour to silt up and prevent vessels from entering. This resulted in a major downturn in trade and started the slow decline Apollonia’s importance. Over time, the silted river became a mosquito-ridden swampland, increasing the frequency of malaria outbreaks. Added to this, the social structure of the city was failing and the Goths were invading the region. Apollonia was no longer a pleasant place to live and, by 800 AD, the city was largely abandoned. During the 9th century, after most residents had left the city, the monastery of St Mary was built by the small group of Christians who remained. in the ruins of the city and was rebuilt in the 14th century. During communist times, religion was banned, so the monastery was used to house livestock and supplies. Since the fall of communism, the Church of St. Mary was returned to its original use and the former monastery buildings were modified to house a small museum and cafe. With its ancient architecture and dim candle lit rooms, St. Mary’s is once again a place of peace. These days Apollonia attracts not only tourists but also newlyweds who want to get their photos taken amongst the ruins. Around the site are the remains of public buildings, temples, theatres, fountains, villas and the old city walls. If you’re looking for things to do in Albania and are interested in Ancient Greece then a day trip to Apollonia is a must. Ron and Michele are Australians who have decided to live life with less things and have more experiences. Their blog, Legging It Travel, covers their travel experiences across more than 30 countries, which they share on their Facebook page. Croatia – Diocletian’s Palace Diocletian’s Palace is one of the few UNESCO Heritage Sites with residents who live, work, and play inside the palace walls. If you’ve ever wanted to experience living in history, staying in this modern community allows you to soak up the site’s history and marvel at how relevant it is for every aspect of contemporary life. Long neglected, but now undergoing a renaissance, the Palace is popular with visitors who arrive by cruise ship from other countries, ferry from the Dalmatian islands, and Croatians on holiday. Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruled from 284-305A.D., famously resigned his position due to declining health, wanting to spend the remainder of his days by the seaside close to where he was born. His plan was to grow tomatoes in the lovely Mediterranean setting in what is now the city of Split, Croatia, on the Dalmatian Coast. This just might be the world’s oldest surviving, upscale retirement home on the water. Constructed at the turn of the 4th century A.D., the palace complex’s residential areas, storehouses, public gathering spaces and temples were supported by a military garrison. Abandoned for several hundred years, and then neglected during Yugoslavia’s Communist regime, the buildings are now repurposed and individual property values within the Palace walls are rising. Foreign nationals looking for an inexpensive holiday home have invested in apartments here, many of which have required restoration within the confines of protected, heritage status. Visitors will experience a bustling, yet relaxed vibe which incorporates historical heritage and clever renovations. Innovative restaurants, upscale accommodations and specialty shops are interspersed among historical squares, a circular oculus open to the sky, colonnades and arches, and ornamental entry gates designated as Gold, Silver and Iron. A stay...

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Michelangelo’s Pieta

Erin — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:30:46 +0000

Shortly after 23-year-old Michelangelo Buonarroti arrived in Rome in 1497, he was approached by French Cardinal Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas for a special task. Cardinal Bilhères wanted an extraordinary sculpture made for his mausoleum in the Chapel of Santa Petronilla, the chapel for the King of France in St. Peter’s Basilica, and he wanted the very young and very talented Michelangelo to create it for him. Michelangelo accepted the commission and promised to create “the most beautiful work of marble in Rome, one that no living artist could better” (Jansen, 459). After returning from a short trip to Carrara, Italy, in 1498 to secure the best marble he could find, Michelangelo began working on the masterpiece now known as Michelangelo’s Pieta. A Pieta is a style of artistic expression that depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of Jesus after He has been removed from the cross, the most common form being sculpture or carving. Michelangelo’s Pieta is made of Carrara marble and sculpted in such a manner as to make it appear smooth and fluid with arrested motion. His version of the Pieta remains one of the most impressive interpretations of the first moments after Christ has been removed from the cross because of how much it diverges from the typical style and because of how much emotion he was able to capture in a scene that appears so serene. Even though his rendition of the Pieta deviates from the typical depiction of the scene, he does hold true to the basic theme of Mary cradling Jesus in her lap. This sculpture shows an adult Christ laying lifeless across His young mother’s lap as she mourns His death. Mary’s face is “serene and peaceful” (Ross) as she holds her son, who has just been removed from the cross. The wounds in His hands, feet and side are visible, but only just so. As with the rest of the details of his Pieta, the restrained inclusion of the crucifixion wounds was innovative in the art of creating Pietas. When Pietas were first developed in Germany at the end of the 13th century they were typically made to show the pain and agony of Christ’s death as well as the sorrow of His mother, Mary (Ross). Michelangelo’s Pieta, while holding true to the basic layout of a Pieta, was a new and innovative way to show the aftermath of the death of Christ. Aside from this being the first Italian Pieta, Michelangelo chose to use a classical representation of Mary by making her youthful instead of the typical middle-aged woman that she really was and he chose to show peace on her face instead of the usual sorrow and grief. The difference of how Michelangelo chose to create his Pieta is glaringly noticeable when placed next to a Pieta that has been made in the typical fashion, such as the Rottgen Pieta. The Rottgen Pieta was created between 1300-1325 by an unknown German artist. It is 35 inches tall and is made of wood that has been painted. Aside from being made in a different century, in a different country and out of different materials, the concept behind the two pieces is the same: the Virgin Mary holding a deceased Christ moments after He has been taken down from the cross. Both pieces show Mary holding Christ in her lap, but that is where the similarities end. The Rottgen Pieta followed the traditional Gothic fashion of creating religious works that were full of anguish and somewhat gory. In Michelangelo’s rendition, he chose to replace the anguish with peace and the gore with “restrained emotional expression” (Ross) that was becoming popular during the Italian Renaissance. Another very noticeable difference is the age of Mary. Michelangelo followed the Classical tradition of making people youthful and attractive while the German artist made his Mary appear old, wrought with grief and obviously suffering. The German Mary is also thin and frail while Michelangelo’s Mary is healthy, busty and in the prime of youth. Aside from the differences in how Mary is portrayed, Christ is very different as well. Michelangelo’s Christ, while deceased, does not show the anguish and suffering that He was sure to have gone through prior to His death. The wounds he received in His hands, feet and sides are present, but they are not as obvious and gory as the Gothic statue portrays. The Gothic statue shows Christ’s wounds in a manner to gain the viewer’s attention and be fully aware of the pain and suffering these profusely bleeding wounds would have caused. Along with the wounds showing that Christ suffered before and during His death, the German Pieta depicts Christ as thin and weak. Surely this means He had suffered much before His death. But Michelangelo chose not to convey that message. He chose to create his Christ as strong and healthy, someone who was heroic and someone who was at peace with His death. Another unique feature of this piece is Mary’s sash. In a move art historians are still trying to understand, Michelangelo brazenly signed his work on the sash that runs between Mary’s breasts. Was it a moment of egotistic zeal? The result of too much wine? A badly calculated coherent decision? Or was there some other reason Michelangelo inscribed his name in so awkward a place? We my never know the answer, but it still stands that Michelangelo brazenly inscribed the words “Michaelangelus Bonarotus Florent Faciebat” across the Mother of God’s chest. Until the end of time, or the statue gets destroyed, all humanity will know: Michelangelo Buonarroti Made This. Because of the way in which he chose to design his Pieta and the message he chose to convey with it, Michelangelo’s Pieta is one of the most important pieces of art in the world. The features that make Michelangelo’s Pieta so beautiful and captivating are the same things that make it so unique and important. Michelangelo’s Pieta is serene and beautiful instead of anguished and gory as Pietas has been up until this point. His Pieta adheres to the principles of naturalism so well that when combined with his careful attention to detail, it achieves a level of realism that hadn’t been seen for centuries, regardless of his accuracy of scale. Perhaps in part because it was the first Italian Pieta ever made and partly because of the peace that it conveys, Michelangelo’s Pieta has been moved from its original resting place in a side chapel to a central place in St. Peter’s Basilica, a major pilgrimage destination where people of all walks of life can see it and be inspired by it. The message conveyed in Michelangelo’s Pieta is one of peace and hope. By choosing to show Christ’s death as one of peace and quietude, Michelangelo is sending the message that death is not the end, that death does not need to be a heart-rending experience for us or the people we love. Michelangelo touched the hearts of the people of his time with his message and continues to touch people today. His Pieta has become one of the most well-known pieces of art in the world and will forever be one of the most beloved pieces in the Christian world. BIBLIOGRAPHY “The Divine Michelangelo – Overview of Michelangelo’s Major Artworks.” BBC News. BBC, 05 Feb. 2004. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/02_february/05/divine_michelangelo_overview.shtml>. Harris, Dr. Beth, and Dr. Steven Zucker. “Michelangelo, Pietà.” Khan Academy. Khan Academy, 20 Mar. 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/high-renaissance1/v/michelangelo-piet-1498-1500>. Janson, H. W., and Anthony F. Janson. “Chapter 13 The High Renaissance in Italy.” History of Art: The Western Tradition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2004. N. pag. Print. “Jean Bilhères De Lagraulas.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Bilh%C3%A8res_de_Lagraulas>. “Michelangelo Biography.” The Michelangelo Experience. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://www.michelangeloexperience.com/michelangelo-buonarroti/#michelangelo-pieta-stpeter>. “Michelangelo, Pietà.” Khan Academy. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/renaissance-reformation/high-ren-florence-rome/high-renaissance1/v/michelangelo-piet-1498-1500>. “Michelangelo.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo>. “Michelangelo’s Pieta.” Italian Renaissance. N.p., 23 July 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.italianrenaissance.org/michelangelos-pieta/>. “Michelangelo’s Pieta.” Rome.info. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. <http://www.rome.info/michelangelo/pieta/>. “Pietà (Michelangelo).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0_(Michelangelo)>. “Pietà.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet%C3%A0>. Pullella, Philip. “Vatican Marks Anniversary of 1972 Attack on Michelangelo’s Pieta.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 21 May 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/21/us-vatican-pieta-idUSBRE94K0KU20130521>. Ross, Nancy. “Michelangelo Pieta.” 13 Feb. 2015. Lecture. “Web Gallery of Art, Image Collection, Virtual Museum, Searchable Database of European Fine Arts (1000-1900).” Web Gallery of Art, Image Collection, Virtual Museum, Searchable Database of European Fine Arts (1000-1900). N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?%2Fhtml%2Fm%2Fmichelan%2F1sculptu%2Fpieta%2F1pieta1.html>.

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