Ayios Neophytos Monastery

A Cypriot guy who I recently met was telling me about this monastery, and I had to look it up. It is situated in Paphos, South Cyprus and is thought to have been founded by a Cypriot Saint in the late 1100s. The reason I was interested in it was because he said the building was carved out of the mountain side, and is a beautiful piece of architecture to visit. Looking at the pictures I am a little disappointed- maybe he praised it a little too much for my imagination, as I expected something much more intricate. Still, an interesting piece and an alternative method of architectural construction!

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

While in Italy over the summer, I visited this beautiful Cathedral. Although I have visited hundreds of Cathedrals during family holidays in the past, and despite previous to the holiday deciding not to write any entries on Cathedrals or churches that I visit, I couldn't resist this one. I have never experienced an architectural design so exquisite and breathtaking. When we sat by it to eat our lunch I found it's beauty and elaborate design kind of surreal. Although quite garish and its criticism for being overly fancy, I really admire the design and time that must have gone into every statue, and every pattern design. The inside is somewhat odd in that it's so unlike the facade- bare, gothic and quite empty, which was designed to represent the austerity of religious life.