Lisbon’s Rua Augusta: Where Mimes Rule… Quietly

June 5, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 15 Comments

One of several mimes we met along Lisbon’s Rua Augusta. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Leaving Barcelona meant we would soon be leaving the Mediterranean.Our time exploring several of the Western World’s most beautiful and historic areas was drawing to an end. We sailed past the Rock of Gibraltar and watched the sunset over North Africa. Our final stop on the European Continent would be Lisbon, after which we would begin our journey by ship across the Atlantic– a lifetime bucket list item of mine.

As our ship passed by the Rock of Gibraltar, we left the Mediterranean Sea behind. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Later we watched the sunset over the North Coast of Africa.

Lisbon is one of Europe’s most ancient cities. Celts, Phoenicians, Romans, Germanic tribes, and Moors had all called it home at one time or the other. In the 1500s the small country of Portugal was a world power with colonies in South America, Africa and the East Indies. Five years ago Peggy and I had traveled to Albufeira on the south coast of Portugal and then wandered north to the fascinating walled city of Evora before flying out of Lisbon. This time we entered Lisbon by sea, passing the UNESCO Heritage site of Belem Tower and sailing under the 25 of April Bridge, which commemorates the overthrow of Portugal’s dictator Antonio Salazar in 1974.

We passed by Belem Tower. Built in the 1500s, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Ponte 24 de Abril serves as the gateway to Lisbon. It is patterned after the Bay Bridge across the San Francisco Bay.

The Ponte 25 de Abril serves as the gateway to Lisbon. It is patterned after the Bay Bridge across the San Francisco Bay.

A view of the April 25 Bridge in Lisbon from below.

What the April 25 Bridge looks like from below.

Since we only had four hours in Portugal, we decided to focus on the Rua Augusta, Lisbon’s bustling pedestrian street in the heart of the city. We stopped to admire the Rua Augusta Arch, strolled along the street, checked out several mimes, had a great lunch and ended our European experience in Rossio Square where the people of Portugal have been gathering for centuries.

At first, I thought this was a statue honoring Mozart. Then I realized he was another mime. The pigeons offered a special touch…

As everyone knows, pigeons have a fondness for statues. We found these in _____ Square at the end of Rua Augusta.

As everyone knows, pigeons have a fondness for statues. We found these on a statue in Rossio Square at the upper end of Rua Augusta.

The arch at the beginning of Rua Augusta.

This flower stall we found added a touch of color to a side street off of the Rua Augusta.

Lisbon balcony with Christmas decorations.

And scarves added color to these Christmas decorations. Many of the walls in Lisbon were covered with tiles as shown here and in the window reflection.

We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant on the Rua Augusta. Here Peggy offers a toast to Portugal and our trip through the Mediterranean.

This photo shows the unique mosaic-like pattern of the Rua Augusta walkway.

This mosaic pattern on Rossio Square at the top of Rua Augusta could make you seasick.

Ferris wheel on Rossio Square in Lisbon.

The ferris wheel we found on Rossio Square is the most colorful I have ever seen.

The merry-go-round on Rossio Square was equally colorful.

Like so many other squares we had visited in Europe, Rossio Square had a fountain featuring semi-clad statues.

A look up the hill reminded us of all the areas we would have to explore on another visit.

The sun setting behind the April 25 Bridge meant it was time to resume our journey.

A final view of the bridge as we sailed off into the night and the Atlantic Ocean.

NEXT BLOG: We stop off at the Azores Islands.

The Genius of Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926)

May 30, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 4 Comments

Our short stay in Barcelona limited the amount of time we had to view to enjoy Antoni Gaudi’s work to Sagrada Familia. Two of my WordPress friends, Alice and Don, referred me to an earlier blog they did which is more extensive. I always like what Alice and Don present so I am reblogging their post on Gaudi today. Enjoy. Curt

Adventures in Wonderland

It feels as if I’ve known about the work of Antoni Gaudi all my life. Certainly I learned about, and saw pictures of his buildings, in high school art classes when I was a teenager, and have wanted to see the real thing ever since. There is nothing ordinary about his work. It is all inventive, and incredibly creative, and magical; every part of a building was a place for art. There’s nothing like it anywhere else.

As I’ve said earlier, Don and I are not ones for a ton of research or facts, but we learned a few things. He was difficult and ornery. He lived the last years of his life at La Sagrada Familia. His construction method was based on catenary arches – the inverse of holding both ends of a piece of string into a curved position. He converted to Catholicism later in life.

We visited…

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Sagrada Familia… Barcelona’s Masterpiece of Art and Faith Soars Toward the Sky

May 29, 2013March 25, 2018 / Curt Mekemson / 20 Comments

An interior photo of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain

Walking into Sagrada Familia and looking up is like entering a totally different world.

Barcelona arrived in the Twentieth Century with its own brand of Art Nouveau, Modernisme. Combining whimsical and practical with a healthy dollop of nature, Barcelona’s Catalan artists and architects did a makeover of their city. Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926), the best known among the Modernistas, added strong religious belief to his work and became the architect of Sagrada Familia, the Church of the Holy Family.

Started in 1883, the church continues to be a work in progress today. Like the great cathedrals of the Gothic and Renaissance periods, it is a work of generations, and like the great cathedrals of Europe, is a masterpiece of art and architecture. Peggy, I, and our traveling companions walked inside and could only stare in awe at the beauty. I’ve selected the photos for this blog to provide a sense of why.

The front of Sagrada Familia reflects Antoni Gaudi’s love of nature and is sometimes described as looking like a melting cake. My thoughts are a melting ice cream cake. The church is a work in progress. The four towers are the first of 14.

Sagrada Familia towers representing Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

A close up of the towers. The lower right shows doves that Gaudi included on the church.

Subirachs ' Passion sculpture on Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

This sculpture found on the opposite side of the church is one of many included in Joseph Marin Subirachs’ story of Christ’s death. I found the modern sculptures both powerful and moving.

Subirachs sculptures on Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

More sculptures by Subirachs.

Another view looking up inside of Sagrada Familia. The columns inside the church range from 36 to 72 feet tall. The ceiling vault reaches a height of 200 feet. The final tower, which will rest on the beams and ceiling, will soar 560 feet into the air, making it the tallest church steeple in the world.

The columns in Sagrada Familia come in different colors and follow Gaudi’s nature theme. Designed to symbolize tree trunks, they branch at the top. The clear windows will eventually be replaced with stained glass windows.

Stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia

The majority of beautiful stained glass windows are already in place. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

This, and the two photos below, provide more examples of stained glass windows in the church.

Stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia

A rather unique set of stained glass windows.

I thought this interior photo captured the etherial quality of Sagrada Familia.

I love this artistic juxtaposition of the organ pipes and stained glass windows taken by Peggy. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

The Crucifix that hangs above the altar.

A final view of Sagrada Familia. Cranes show work in progress. The church is scheduled to be finished in 2026.

NEXT BLOG: We leave the Mediterranean and head for Lisbon.

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La Boqueria: Barcelona’s World Class Market… Seaports of the Mediterranean

May 24, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 19 Comments

A front view of the busy La Boqueria. The sign and building were done in Barcelona’s famous Modernista art style.

What a place… a kaleidoscope of colors, smells, noises and textures– an imagination gone wild. I walked into the Boqueria Market just off of Barcelona’s Ramblas (most famous street and pedestrian way in Barcelona) and I was captured; enthralled may be a better word. I could have spent a week alone with the fish. There were fruits and vegetables and breads and nuts and meats and drinks… not to mention some 200 square feet of chocolate delights! Who wouldn’t go crazy? Imagine going here to shop instead of your local Safeway or Wal-Mart.

La Boqueria is first mentioned in Barcelona literature in 1217. It may have started as a goat market. The market arrived at its present location in 1835 when St. Josephs Convent burned down. Today it is one of Europe’s best known fresh produce markets, a favorite of both locals and travelers… especially travelers with cameras. One stall owner even yelled at me, “No, no take pictures. Buy.” I could empathize… but I could no more not take photos than refuse to breathe.

Peggy spent what seemed like hours checking out the 200 square feet of chocolate wonders…

… while I was intrigued by the strange fish. This one had a face only its mother could love.

I promptly named this guy Jaws.

Squid, anyone?

I found these shrimp colorful…

… and these, uh, weird.

I found most photos on the web featured fruit stalls like this at La Boqueria rather than my fish. I wonder why? (Photo by Peggy Mekemson… Peggy does not take photos of weird fish)

Being a big fan of spicy food, I found these peppers quite attractive.

Hanging garlic and corn at La Boqueria Market in Barcelona.

I also liked the hanging garlic and corn.

Several types of mushrooms were for sale. I believe these were morels. They grow up behind our house in Oregon. People kill for them.

Delicious fruit drinks at La Boqueria in Barcelona

Fresh fruit drinks were in abundance. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

eating raw oysters at La Boqueria in Barcelona Spain

Peggy’s brother John joyfully downed a raw oyster. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Fruit at La Boqueria Market in Barcelona.

I’ll close with my own obligatory photo of fruit at La Boqueria. Can you taste the strawberries?

NEXT BLOG: We journey to the incredibly beautiful and strange cathedral, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. You will not want to miss this blog.

Cannes: Where the Rich and Famous Hang Out… Seaports of the Mediterranean

May 22, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 6 Comments

The rich and famous hang out at Cannes and I am sure you will recognize this trio from Charlie’s Angels. Do you think Cameron Diaz minded that I borrowed her body? (Photo by Peggy Mekemson, body by Cameron, head by Curt)

The Cannes Film Festival is going on now. The town has filled with an army of glitterati and paparazzi. The famous and infamous have gathered to be seen, party, hang out, party, watch movies and party. We were there at a quieter time, thankfully. Still, we couldn’t help but note that monstrous yachts filled the harbor and fire engine red Ferraris served as rent-a-cars. We did the tourist thing, checked out the walk of actors’ handprints, and had our photos taken with cutouts, which was a close as we got to anyone famous.

This is what rent-a-cars look like in Cannes. My guess is that you wouldn’t get the economy rate.

Celebrities John, Frances and Peggy enjoy their moment on the Red Carpet at Cannes

Much fine, and I might add expensive, food will be served up in Cannes this week. Here I feature an appetizing duck a l’orange.

Peggy couldn’t resist trying out Meryl Streep’s hand print for size. Meryl’s fingers are longer.

I took this photo of Sly Stone's hand print. Can you sense the testosterone?

I took this photo of Sly Stallone’s hand print. Can you sense the testosterone?

We also enjoyed wandering around Cannes and were particularly taken with this building. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Cannes was in the early stages of preparing for Christmas when we visited. I liked the way these decorations reflected an awning below.

Window shopping in Cannes, as you might imagine, was interesting. Take this form fitted chair, for instance… It seemed to go along with the ape lamp above it.

What would Cannes be without yachts? My house would fit in these guys. Damn, maybe my five acres would.

We ended our day in Cannes, France by returning to our own Yacht.

NEXT BLOG: We visit the wonderful city of Barcelona and the most impressive market I have ever been in.

Snapshots of Florence

May 20, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 13 Comments

This is one of those photos that didn’t fit into my blog themes about Florence but definitely deserved to be included. I liked the door, window with its impressionistic reflection, lamp and even the dark wall, which provided contrast.

When I have finished blogging about an area, I always find I have “leftovers,” i.e. thoughts and photos I liked but didn’t fit the particular themes I was pursuing. For example, what do you do with an extra Lamb of God? They are rather hard to ignore. And then there is always an intriguing door or an interesting historical fact that begs to be told. Anyway, before I rush off to Cannes, here are a few of my “leftovers” from Florence.

Peggy captured this bit of Christian iconography… the Lamb of God, which represents Christ leading his flock, I guess. There was something about the perky, down the nose glance that tickled my funny bone. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

These walls were impossible to ignore.

This close up provides detail. Check out the mythological beasts and cherubs in the paintings. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Arno River flowing through Florence, Italy.

The Arno River, running through the heart of Florence, could occupy a professional photographer for days. I am sure it has.

Florence’s city hall with its beautiful clock tower. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

The Piazza della Repubblica with its dominating arch. The message on it reads “The ancient center of the City restored from age-old squalor to new life.” It’s what we call urban renewal where historical treasures are bulldozed down to make way for the modern. Much was lost.

Who can resist a tower? I Googled the heck out of this one but couldn’t find its name. Maybe one of my readers will help.

Cat and Mouse at Florence Christmas market

On the lighter side of things, Peggy and I visited Florence’s Christmas Market where this cat and mouse amused me. Note the mouse’s tongue.

Since I started my blogs on Florence with a lion, it is only appropriate that I finish with one.

NEXT BLOG: The Cannes Festival is going on now. We were there at a quieter time.

The Duomo and Santa Croce: Two Great Churches of Florence

May 10, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 6 Comments

Looking up at the magnificent dome on Florence’s Duomo Cathedral.

There are three reasons for visiting Florence’s Cathedral, commonly known as the Duomo. First is the Church itself, second is the magnificent bell tower, which stands next to the church, and third is the octagonal-shaped Baptistery, which stands in front.

The dome of Duomo was one of the great works of the Renaissance. (The church had been waiting since the Middle Ages for its top.) Filippo Brunelleschi, who built the dome, first studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome. Like so much of the Renaissance, the dome represented a return to, or a rebirth of, the great Greek and Roman cultures that had thrived 1000 years earlier before the Dark Ages had arrived along with the Barbarian hordes.

This photo by Peggy captured the Baptistery on the left, the Duomo with its Dome in the center and the bell tower on the right. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A front view of Florence’s Duomo Church

Looking up at the Duomo dome from inside the church.

The 270-foot tall Campanile or Giotto’s Tower, which is located next to the Duomo, was actually completed 100 years before Brunelleschi put his finishing touches on the church. Many consider the bell tower to be among the most beautiful in Europe.

Giotto’s Bell Tower in Florence, Italy

The top of Giotto’s Bell Tower. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A front view of Giotto’s Bell Tower with the Duomo to the left.

The Baptistery features Ghiberti’s bronze doors. Michelangelo believed these gates were so beautiful they could have served as “the Gates of Paradise.”

Ghiberti’s Bronze Doors on the Baptistery in Florence. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Ghiberti's Baptistery doors in Florence Italy

A closer look at the Baptistery Doors.

Close up of Baptistery doors Florence Italy

This view of the Baptistery door gives a sense of why Michelangelo spoke so highly of Ghiberti’s work.

The Basilica of Santa Croce, a 14^th Century Franciscan church, also had some great doors but is better known for the people buried inside including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Galileo. As we stood in front of the church admiring its doors, a man sent bubbles floating into the sky.

A huge soap-bubble went floating up by the beautiful wooden doors of Santa Croce.

The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence.

NEXT BLOG: While you are reading this blog, Peggy and I are on the scenic Oregon Coast looking for whales. I will feature the trip on my next blog.

Renaissance Florence (Firenze)… Born Again Culture

May 8, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 10 Comments

This nice kitty with his finger like paws greeted us on the Piazza del Signoria... along with several other sculptures.

This nice kitty with his finger like paws greeted us on the Piazza della Signoria… along with several other sculptures. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

I made the point in my last blog–I am returning to Florence. The two-hour trip to Florence from the Port of Livorno where our ship was docked, and the two-hour trip back, seriously sucked up what little time we had to enjoy the legendary Renaissance city.

Our first act upon arrival was to plot out our plan of attack, which we did over café lattes and scrumptious Italian pastries. Why suffer? I really, really hate to eliminate treasures, however. Florence is where the birth of the Renaissance took place and is chock full of art.

While our day in Florence was short, it wasn’t so short we couldn’t enjoy a Cafe Latte.

The Uffizi Gallery alone, with its world-class art including masterpieces by Sandro Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci, would take up half out time. Beyond that we plotted out a walk that would take us to the Duomo Basilica and then back to Santo Croce Basilica, where we were to catch our bus. Sadly, I crossed off the Accademia Gallery, which includes Michelangelo’s original David.

But not to worry… there was a magnificent copy of David in front of the Uffizi Gallery in Piazza della Signoria. It was in this square, BTW, that the infamous priest Savonarola (1452-98) held his ‘Bonfire of Vanities’ and encouraged the good citizens of Florence to bring their art treasures and books to be burned. Somewhat ironically, Savonarola, who was quite vain in his own way, was also burned in the square.

Copy of Michelangelo's David standing in front of the Uffizzi Art Gallery.

Michelangelo’s David has always been Peggy’s favorite sculpture. How’s a guy supposed to compete? This copy stands in front of the Uffizi Gallery on Piazza della Signoria where the original David stood.

I enjoyed these charging horses pulling Neptune’s chariot on Piazza della Signoria in Florence. The horses were carved by the Sculpture Ammannati.

This sculpture by Benvenuto Cellini shows Perseus holding up the head of Medusa, which he had just lopped off. Hopefully her eyes are closed. Otherwise you would be turned to stone. I am thinking the stuff flowing out of the neck is a little weird.

The most dynamic sculpture on the Piazza del Signoria is the Rape of the Sabine Women by the sculpture Giambologna. The story goes that Romulous needed more women for his new city of Rome, so he went to the nearby town of Sabine and kidnapped them.

The most dynamic sculpture on the Piazza della Signoria is the Rape of the Sabine Women by the sculpture Giambologna. The story goes that Romulus needed more women for his new city of Rome, so he went to the nearby town of Sabine and kidnapped them. See the close up below.

A close up of Giambologna’s sculpture, which he carved from a single block of marble.

They didn’t allow photos to be taken in the Uffizi Gallery, but when we came out, a short walk took us to Florence’s most famous bridge, the Ponte Vecchio.

A view of the Ponte (bridge) Vecchio crossing the Arno River in Florence.

A close up of the Pont Vecchio in Florence. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

For my final picture today, I selected this view looking down the Arno River from the Pont Vecchio.

For my final picture today, I selected this view looking down the Arno River from Pont Vecchio.

NEXT BLOG: We will visit two of Florence’s great churches: the Duomo and Santa Croce. Prepare to be dazzled.

There’s This Pig in Florence…

May 6, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 15 Comments

Kathi Saage and I rub the nose of Il Porcillino in hopes of returning to Florence.

Kathi Saage and I rub the nose of Il Porcellino in hopes of returning to Florence.

So, here’s a serious question: With all of the beautiful art in Florence, why in the world would I kick off my Florence series with a pig?

I’ll be brief. I was told if I rubbed the nose of the pig, or the snout of the boar if you prefer, I would come back to Florence. Considering I had six hours to explore everything Florence had to offer, I looked on my nose polishing effort as a guarantee of a return trip.

Peggy, also wanting to return to Florence, eagerly rubs Little Pig’s nose.

A close up of Porcellino’s well-rubbed nose.

Il Porcellino, or Little Pig, as he is known, was sculpted way back in 1612 and was based on an original marble pig of Greek origin dating back to who knows when. The present pig is a copy of the copy. You can tell by his shiny nose that lots of people share my desire to come back to Florence. Apparently rubbing his snout for a return trip dates back to the 1700s.

Little Pig is housed in an attractive marketplace that was built by Cosimo de’ Medici between 1547-1551. Bad merchants, who had the misfortune of going bankrupt, were spanked here before being sent off to prison. I couldn’t find a description on what the spanking entailed.

The overflowing Mercato Nuovo or the Straw Market where bad merchants were once spanked.

One more fact: There are copies of Little Pig found throughout the world, including one at the University of Arkansas representing the school’s mascot, a Razorback hog. I wonder if the students realize the origin of their statue?

I finished off my trip to Florence by admiring a real pig being roasted at the Christmas Fair being held in Piazza Santa Croce. He smelled yummy. Unfortunately, we were under strict orders from our tour guide to be on time for the trip back to our ship… or be left behind, so I didn’t get to try a sample.

The roasting pig at Florence’s Christmas Fair on Piazza Santa Croce.

NEXT BLOG: We will check out Michelangelo’s David, Peggy’s all time favorite sculpture.

Rome Walk-About: When Pickpockets Strike… Mediterranean Ports

May 3, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 10 Comments

One of the joys of walk-about is you come on treasures you might not see otherwise. This delightful elephant carved by Bernini is located near the Pantheon. It serves as the base for an obelisk.

If you’ve been following this blog, you know we like to walk extensively when visiting a new city. It’s a good way to become acquainted with the region and its people. Plus it’s great exercise. While Rome is huge, the historic section is confined to a relatively small section. It was large enough, however, that we used mass transit for longer distances.

There were two challenges. The first was figuring out the where and when of catching a train in a language we didn’t speak. The second was that the subway is a great place for pickpockets, especially during rush hour. Rick Steves, in his book on Mediterranean Ports, was constantly admonishing us to be on theft alert.

Peggy, who is more paranoid than I, is always urging me to transfer my wallet to my front pocket when we are in a crowd. Sometimes I even comply. Once, she didn’t even have to ask. We were in Amsterdam and the city had put up huge banners across the streets warning people about thieves.

Neither did I require urging in Rome. Folks in Southern Europe were suffering from serious Euro Deficit Dysfunction. Times were tough. We both wore money belts.

The stories are legion about various scams. Travelers love to share tales. One of my favorites is a woman will ask you to hold her baby while her compatriots grab your wallet. No way was I going to hold a stranger’s baby. Heck, I’ll hardly hold the baby of a woman I know. Babies are known to burp and pee on you. Can you imagine the insult added to injury if a baby was burping and peeing on you while someone was stealing your wallet?

While the stories are fun, the problems are real. A man staying at our hotel lost 2000 euros. A woman on the ship told us she was waiting at the airport when a nicely dressed couple told her something was sprayed all over the back of her jacket. The woman took it off. Sure enough, the jacket was covered with green goop. While her husband took the jacket to the restroom to wash, the couple kept her company. They left when her husband returned. Only later did she realize that her purse left with them.

We were at the Termini, a major transfer point, when our turn came. It was at the peak of rush hour and the train was crammed full. John, Peggy’s brother, and his wife Frances had climbed on first. Four little kids, maybe eight years old, jumped on in front of us. Peggy and I were squeezing in when John shouted. He had felt someone reaching in his back pocket. Meanwhile, the four little kids were trying to jump off the train. Peggy, being the ex-elementary school principal she is, thought the kids were confused and tried to shove them back on. The little pickpockets, of course, thought she was trying to collar them. They managed to escape just as the doors were closing. Fortunately, John was also wearing a money belt. He kept his euros and we had a story to tell.

Besides our experience with the pickpockets, we had managed to visit Trajan’s Column, the Trevi Fountains and the Pantheon on our day’s walk-about.

This monument to Italy’s first King, Victor Immanuel, is huge, measuring 200 feet high by 500 feet wide. The statue of King Emmanuel, in the middle, is the largest equestrian statue in the world.

The emperor Trajan apparently had lots to say about his victorious Dacian campaign circa 103 AD. He told it on this column.

The emperor Trajan apparently had lots to say about his victorious Dacian campaign circa 103 AD. He told it on the bas-relief making its way up the 140-foot column. See below for detail. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

This photo shows how much detail is included on Trajan’s Column. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Remember the song, “Three Coins In A Fountain”? Maybe not. Anyway, it was about Trevi Fountain, one of the must-sees on most tours of Rome.

I found this horse with its yellow ears waiting patiently outside the Pantheon. I took the photo for my cousin Alice who lives in Ohio and is a great horsewoman. I figured the ear-covers might be appreciated by horses living through cold Ohio winters.

The Pantheon, built to honor all of Rome’s gods, there were a lot, is one of the world’s most famous structures. Its dome served as a model for domes ranging from St. Peter’s Basilica to the US Capitol building.