I have been going to Sainte-Chapelle since the early seventies when there were no tourists, no queues, no selfie sticks and no security. Then, it was free. But, it was hard to find. Buried behind the Palais de Justice, it was the hidden gem of Paris. It hadn’t even found its way into the guidebooks.
The Collegiale Notre-Dame de Beaune is one of the great Romanesque churches of Burgundy. Constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries, it is renowned for its 16th-century tapestries about the life of Mary.
A visit to Beaune would not be complete without seeing the Hôtel-Dieu de Beaune. A hospital until recently, the Hôtel-Dieu is part of a charitable institution created in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy.
Chiesas are everywhere in Italy. They dot the countryside like sheep. It’s hard not to pass one at some time during the day. Recognised for its fresco covered dome ceiling, Chiesa di Sant’Anna is a typical Chiesa in the small Italian village of Diano Serreta.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon is the largest museum outside of Paris. Situated near the Place des Terreaux in a former Benedictine convent of the 17th and 18th centuries, its collections range from ancient antiquity to Modern Art.
Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a place where faith can be reborn. It is alive. It is uplifting and awe-inspiring. Gilt, marble, stained glass and coloured mosaics cover virtually every surface. Vivid colours and complex patterns bombard the senses.