The Pelješac Bridge, Croatia
The Pelješac Bridge, known as "Pelješki most", is a significant infrastructure project in Croatia that provides an uninterrupted road connection between the southernmost part of the country and the rest of the mainland. The bridge, completed last year (2022), eliminated the need to cross the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina for that connection, a step that had previously resulted in delays and congestion. The bridge also has a positive impact on tourism by facilitating travel to and from the beautiful Pelješac Peninsula.
The main span of the bridge is about 2.4 kilometers, making it one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in Europe.
Photographer: Denis Treskanica - @dtreskanica [IG]
Karlštejn Castle, Czech Republic 🇨🇿
The large Gothic castle was founded in 1348 by Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor-elect and King of Bohemia. It was built to securely house imperial treasures, including the Imperial Regalia, the Bohemian Crown Jewels, and holy relics. The site is located approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) southwest of Prague.
Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France
Built in 1248, Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is a stunning embodiment of the Rayonnant Gothic style, which emphasized light and height. Commissioned by King Louis IX, this royal chapel was constructed to house sacred relics, including the Crown of Thorns. The building’s design is often described as a “jewel box” of glass, where the architecture seems to dissolve in favor of immense stained-glass windows. These windows, comprising over 1,100 panels, depict scenes from both the Old and New Testaments and were designed to narrate Biblical stories visually, as many medieval viewers could not read.
Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass, some of the finest and oldest of its kind, was crafted to achieve a divine effect. Each panel depicts detailed scenes, from Creation to the Last Supper, forming a visual scripture that reaches to the ceiling. Gothic architecture emphasized light as a divine symbol, and the chapel’s walls, nearly entirely glass, create an ethereal interior that seems to glow from within. Light was a profound symbol in the Gothic period, and Rayonnant architecture took this even further, with Sainte-Chapelle’s vibrant glass making stone supports appear almost invisible.
Though damaged during the French Revolution, nearly two-thirds of the original glass panels survived. Restoration efforts have carefully maintained the chapel’s historic charm, preserving its status as a Gothic masterpiece. Sainte-Chapelle remains a profound reminder of the Middle Ages’ architectural achievements—a period often called the “Dark Ages” yet capable of producing such divine vessels of light.
Photographer: Juan Sanchez - @juans83 [IG]
A Façade Carved Like Stone Lace.
The Cathedral Basilica of Zacatecas in Mexico is one of the country’s most richly decorated Baroque landmarks, with saints, columns, vines, angels, and ornamental details carved into pink stone.
Photographer: Alan Moes
![The Pelješac Bridge, CroatiaThe Pelješac Bridge, known as "Pelješki most", is a significant infrastructure project in Croatia that provides an uninterrupted road connection between the southernmost part of the country and the rest of the mainland. The bridge, completed last year (2022), eliminated the need to cross the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina for that connection, a step that had previously resulted in delays and congestion. The bridge also has a positive impact on tourism by facilitating travel to and from the beautiful Pelješac Peninsula.The main span of the bridge is about 2.4 kilometers, making it one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in Europe.Photographer: Denis Treskanica - @dtreskanica [IG]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727304547614967613450_0_a9dbf42f32d9cc7b2cbe0922d6986a84.jpg?o=aHR0cHM6Ly9zY29udGVudC1hdGwzLTIuY2RuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS92L3QzOS4zMDgwOC02LzcwMjI1MjIwOV8xNTI4OTQ0MDAyMjI1NTc5XzI4OTE5NTc3NDIyMzM4MDUzNTlfbi5qcGc/c3RwPWMwLjE4MC4xNDQwLjE0NDBhX2RzdC1qcGdfZTM1X3M2NDB4NjQwX3NoMi4wOF90dDYmX25jX2h0PXNjb250ZW50LWF0bDMtMi5jZG5pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tJl9uY19jYXQ9MSZfbmNfb2M9UTZjWjJnR2lCVlYyLTNzc1RGbXNlYnpLNndhZ2taRUZ0UHdrOWZPVU5uaUpQZGJ5bWswNjNhOElndGRGTTI5TDh2VkxNQ2FEeWRUMWF1bUpzeS1WcWFFaXhfcFQmX25jX29oYz1XOEdtQzdHUm40c1E3a052d0V0MDRQeCZfbmNfZ2lkPXFNUWVDMFBacERJMTlRN3kxUmdWdkEmZWRtPUFQVTg5RkFBQUFBQSZjY2I9Ny01Jm9oPTAwX0FmNFBsN3RCMHdQbkg5bU54NXM0Y3hMNG15TldXcGtDWl9WRm5nOTh4OVczM0Emb2U9NkExMTZBMUMmX25jX3NpZD1iYzBjMmM=&h=865af8059b0e7588c2a656c5dbea85a2)
![Street Art Masterpiece That Will Make You Fall in Love With Books AgainArtist: @janisdeman [IG]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727312315182867451248_0_da98fc333aac92a24d71ac8d810d00d3.jpg?o=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&h=8a3a216c44f77041027cc713af77dc4d)
![Mushrooms Of Seville, SpainPhotographer: Denis Treskanica - @dtreskanica [IG]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727315033287249514363_0_3cb322273aa83b367b532a1f9c1a5514.jpg?o=aHR0cHM6Ly9zY29udGVudC1hdGwzLTMuY2RuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS92L3QzOS4zMDgwOC02LzcwMjUzMjIxM18xNTI4OTUzOTc1NTU3OTE1XzgyODUzNDMwMjk2Njc5MjAzNzZfbi5qcGc/c3RwPWMwLjE4MC4xNDQwLjE0NDBhX2RzdC1qcGdfZTM1X3M2NDB4NjQwX3NoMi4wOF90dDYmX25jX2h0PXNjb250ZW50LWF0bDMtMy5jZG5pbnN0YWdyYW0uY29tJl9uY19jYXQ9MTExJl9uY19vYz1RNmNaMmdHaUJWVjItM3NzVEZtc2Vieks2d2Fna1pFRnRQd2s5Zk9VTm5pSlBkYnltazA2M2E4SWd0ZEZNMjlMOHZWTE1DYUR5ZFQxYXVtSnN5LVZxYUVpeF9wVCZfbmNfb2hjPXd4RzJpUlpZSzRFUTdrTnZ3RUhSSFRTJl9uY19naWQ9cU1RZUMwUFpwREkxOVE3eTFSZ1Z2QSZlZG09QVBVODlGQUFBQUFBJmNjYj03LTUmb2g9MDBfQWY0SUJKWHVneGxkdl9GM0FnSDcyVURmNHhieWdhWHRSVUozRnlrS2ZNdkNiQSZvZT02QTExNDE4NyZfbmNfc2lkPWJjMGMyYw==&h=00cf43a68bc449b204bccc108e0084d9)
![Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, FranceBuilt in 1248, Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is a stunning embodiment of the Rayonnant Gothic style, which emphasized light and height. Commissioned by King Louis IX, this royal chapel was constructed to house sacred relics, including the Crown of Thorns. The building’s design is often described as a “jewel box” of glass, where the architecture seems to dissolve in favor of immense stained-glass windows. These windows, comprising over 1,100 panels, depict scenes from both the Old and New Testaments and were designed to narrate Biblical stories visually, as many medieval viewers could not read.Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass, some of the finest and oldest of its kind, was crafted to achieve a divine effect. Each panel depicts detailed scenes, from Creation to the Last Supper, forming a visual scripture that reaches to the ceiling. Gothic architecture emphasized light as a divine symbol, and the chapel’s walls, nearly entirely glass, create an ethereal interior that seems to glow from within. Light was a profound symbol in the Gothic period, and Rayonnant architecture took this even further, with Sainte-Chapelle’s vibrant glass making stone supports appear almost invisible.Though damaged during the French Revolution, nearly two-thirds of the original glass panels survived. Restoration efforts have carefully maintained the chapel’s historic charm, preserving its status as a Gothic masterpiece. Sainte-Chapelle remains a profound reminder of the Middle Ages’ architectural achievements—a period often called the “Dark Ages” yet capable of producing such divine vessels of light.Photographer: Juan Sanchez - @juans83 [IG]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6727313347644434153643_0_6cead276d38853a49a083166619c1668.jpg?o=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&h=286c01da65f1e1ec42cdd1b13bddc186)
