Heritage with Related Tags
Monastery and Site of the Escurial, Madrid
Built at the end of the 16th century, the Monastery of the Escurial is designed in the form of a latticework used for the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, in a beautiful area of Castile. Its austere architectural style is very different from previous ones and has had a major influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. Once the retreat of a mysterious king, it became the most powerful political power center of the time during the last years of the reign of Philip II.
Archaeological Site of Philippi
The ruins of this walled city sit at the foot of an acropolis in northeastern Greece, on the Via Egnatia, an ancient route linking Europe and Asia. Founded in 356 BC by King Philip II of Macedonia, the city developed into a "little Rome" in the decades following the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, with the establishment of the Roman Empire. The vibrant Hellenistic city under Philip II, with its walls and gates, theatre and hero temples buried within the city, was supplemented with Roman public buildings such as the forum and the monumental terrace with temples to the north. Later, the city became a centre of the Christian faith following a visit by the Apostle Paul in 49-50 AD. The remains of its basilica are outstanding testimony to the establishment of early Christianity.
Castel del Monte
Emperor Frederick II built the castle near Bari in the 13th century, giving it symbolic significance, reflected in its location, its layout with mathematical and astronomical precision, and its perfectly regular shape. Castello del Monte is a unique medieval military building that successfully combines elements from the Classical period, the Islamic East, and the Northern European Cistercian Gothic.
Archaeological Site of Aigai (modern name Vergina)
The city of Aegae, the first capital of the Kingdom of Macedonia, was discovered in the 19th century near Vergina in northern Greece. Among its most important remains are the magnificent palace, richly decorated with mosaics and painted stucco, and a cemetery with more than 300 tombs, some dating back to the 11th century BC. A royal tomb in the Great Tomb has been identified as that of Philip II, who conquered all the Greek cities and paved the way for his son Alexander and the expansion of the Hellenistic world.