Tag: Architecture

Thursday doors – 23 November 2023, Perugia, Italy

Doors 244 – Perugia doors, Umbria, Italy (Part II)

Having emerged from the tunnels beneath Perugia, we (and by that I mean me and my son, this was a dad and lad day out) were treated to a bustling city, which happened to be hosting a Jazz Festival, filled with music and visitors. Certainly there was a lively buzz over and above the white noise of regular tourists (like us).

These doors are presented pretty much in chronological order, mapping our route through the streets and squares. This was a slightly cooler day, the only one during our week-long trip, and a perfect one for exploring. Let’s cut to the chase… here are some doors:

Door with wooden frame, window and bell, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Door with wooden frame, window and bell, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Six panelled door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Six panelled door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Door and balcony above, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Door and balcony above, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Beautiful arched doorway and carved wooden doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Beautiful arched doorway and carved wooden doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Ancient stonework surrounds a modern door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Ancient stonework surrounds a modern door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Grand entrance, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Grand entrance, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Palazzo dei Priori with several doors and entrances, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Palazzo dei Priori with several doors and entrances, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

Our trip to Italy feels like it was several years ago, so it is great to refresh my memories, digging out these doors for this post. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Another selection from Perugia next week… probably.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 16 November 2023, Perugia, Italy

Doors 243 – Perugia doors, Umbria, Italy (Part I)

One of the ways to enter the hilltop City of Perugia is via an underground escalator which begins at a car park at the bottom of the hill upon which Perugia is perched. I hadn’t really done much homework about the city and was utterly blown away by what we saw at the top of the series of escalators. You don’t emerge into the blinding light of the Umbrian sunshine, but instead enter a subterranean city, upon which Perugia is built.

I won’t give you the full history as to how this came about, but there is quite a useful quick guide on the Invitation to Tuscany and Beyond website. In short the original 16th century streets were augmented with high vaulted ceilings, on top of which a fortress was built – Rocca Paolina. The fortress was subsequently destroyed following the unification of Italy in 1860, but some of the streets below were left untouched, and this week’s doors, or rather doorways and ghost doors, are to be found in this extraordinary, dimly-lit underground place. Something a little different this week, which I hope you enjoy.

Subterranean archways, gates and ghost doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Subterranean archways, gates and ghost doors, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Archways, a ghost door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Archways, a ghost door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Vaulted ceiling, archways and doorways, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Vaulted ceiling, archways and doorways, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Two ghost doors, one inside the other, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Two ghost doors, one inside the other, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Archways and doorways, one inside the other, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Archways and doorways, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Towards the gate, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Towards the gate, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Marzia gate and door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Marzia gate and door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

More to come from the ‘above ground’ city of Perugia next time. May I wish you a pleasant weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

By Scooj

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Thursday doors – 9 November 2023, Todi, Italy

Doors 242 – Todi doors, Umbria, Italy (Part IV)

This week I bring you the last few doors, and one or two other interesting features, from our visit to Todi in Umbria last summer. Although we only spent a few hours in the town, we managed to cover a lot of ground and see some wonderful things. The temperature was searingly hot, although only a prelude to the heatwave that was to come the following week, and in true ‘mad dogs and Englishmen’ style we arrived just before midday.

Todi is one of several stunning Umbrian hilltop towns, offering everything you’d expect to find in terms of historic environment and culture. The door pictures are only a representative microcosm of the magnificence of the place – I hope you enjoy them.

Fine double doors and hefty stone work, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Fine double doors and hefty stone work, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
What the heck is going on behind these doors? Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
What the heck is going on behind these doors? Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Confessional doors, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Confessional doors, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Fragment of ancient wall, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Fragment of ancient wall, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Grand carved wooden panelled door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Grand carved wooden panelled door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Symmetry of wooden door, plants and steps, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Symmetry of wooden door, plants and steps, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
A classic urban Umbrian view, complete with a door through the arches, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
A classic urban Umbrian view, complete with a door through the arches, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

That’s it for another week – Next time I move on to Perugia and some more Umbrian magic.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 2 November 2023, Todi, Italy

Doors 241 – Todi doors, Umbria, Italy (Part III)

Once again I find myself under a little time pressure, so I will be brief for today’s door collection. This is a further set of doors from Todi, the first of several towns and cities we visited back in July this year. There is no theme to this selection, I am presenting them in chronological order, which perhaps gives you a sense of just how many great doors there are in this town.

Recessed door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Recessed door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Old door within a door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Old door within a door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Doorways and doors in the Piazza del Popolo, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Doorways and doors in the Piazza del Popolo, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Three fine entrances and doors on the Duomo di Todi, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Three fine entrances and doors on the Duomo di Todi, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Central door of the Duomo di Todi, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Central door of the Duomo di Todi, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Internal door of the Duomo di Todi, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Internal door of the Duomo di Todi, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

That’s it for this week. Short and sweet I’m afraid. Next week will be the last set of doors from Todi and after that I move on to another Umbrian gem. Have a great weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 19 October 2023, Todi, Italy

Doors 239 – Todi doors, Umbria, Italy (Part I)

I am currently at an event in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, and have written this post in advance. An English autumn and a summer in Todi are worlds apart, and it has been something of a pleasure sorting out the doors this week, recollecting those parched Italian days, whilst sitting in a dark centrally-heated house in Bristol. The large family gathering we had near Massa Martana was a very special holiday and will remain with us forever. The location of the villa was close to Todi and to several other towns and cities in the west of Umbria and for the next few weeks of Thursday doors, I intend to share some lovely doors from the trip back in July.

This first set of doors is from Todi, on a day that was unbelievably hot and we were wilting in the midday sun – we managed to find some respite in the shady back streets. I hope you enjoy this modest selection that I hope will whet your appetite for more:

Restaurant door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Restaurant door, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Attractive wooden doors and iron work over the lunette window, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Attractive wooden doors and iron work over the lunette window, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Austere iron doors, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Austere iron doors, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Archway, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Archway, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Door panels in an arched doorway, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Door panels in an arched doorway, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
A well-used door and patterned render, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
A well-used door and patterned render, Todi, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

That’s yer lot for this week, but there is plenty more to come from this trip. Have a great weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 12 October 2023, Lincoln

Doors 238 – Lincoln City doors (Part X) – Leftovers (B)

I did say last week that this post would be the last from Lincoln, and indeed it is (imagines a huge sigh of relief). I don’t quite understand how, but some of the best doors seem to be in this week’s final leftovers. Maybe I was holding them back for a special mention, or maybe they didn’t fit with a particular theme. Whatever the reason, I am quite fond of this ‘homeless’ group of Lincoln doors that allow me to sign-off with a bang rather than a whimper.

The final door alone is worth an extra mention and if you want to know more about the unusual St Hughes Chambers building, there is a rather nice description here. So on with the final Lincoln collection:

Three black doors, Jews Court, Lincoln, July 2023
Three black doors, Jews Court, Lincoln, July 2023
Three black doors, Jews House, Lincoln, July 2023
Three black doors, Jews House, Lincoln, July 2023
Black door, Lincoln, July 2023
Black door, Lincoln, July 2023
Black doors, Timber framed house, Lincoln, July 2023
Black doors, Timber framed house, Lincoln, July 2023
Four doors in a row of cottages, Lincoln, July 2023
Four doors in a row of cottages, Lincoln, July 2023
Green door, Black door, Lincoln, July 2023
Green door, Black door, Lincoln, July 2023
Grand entrance and interesting glass panelled door, Lincoln, July 2023
Grand entrance and interesting glass panelled door, Lincoln, July 2023
Red door blue door, Lincoln, July 2023
Red door blue door, Lincoln, July 2023
Three doors and outside seating is available I'm told, Lincoln, July 2023
Three doors and outside seating is available I’m told, Lincoln, July 2023
St Hugh's Chambers building with recessed front door, Lincoln, July 2023
St Hughes Chambers building with recessed front door, Lincoln, July 2023

Well, that really is it from my July trip to Lincoln – I hope I have done this much overlooked city justice and that you have enjoyed the doors and architecture. Next up some beautiful doors from Umbria, Italy. Have a great weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 5 October 2023

Doors 237 – Lincoln City doors (Part IX) – Leftovers (A)

Thank you for putting up with such a prolonged series of posts on Lincoln doors. This is the penultimate selection of doors from a trip to Lincoln in July this year and is a bit of a wash up. This set of doors are from different parts of the city and there is no central theme, they are simply doors that I liked and photographed. Nothing quirky, nothing particularly exciting, but I hope there is something for you to enjoy.

Black door with decorated glass and railings, Lincoln, July 2023
Black door with decorated glass and railings, Lincoln, July 2023
Door with awning and pigeon discouragement, Lincoln, July 2023
Door with awning and pigeon discouragement, Lincoln, July 2023
Olive door and olive themed restaurant, Lincoln, July 2023
Olive door and olive themed restaurant, Lincoln, July 2023
Green and blue pair of doors, Lincoln, July 2023
Green and blue pair of doors, Lincoln, July 2023
Low white door, Lincoln, July 2023
Low white door, Lincoln, July 2023
Black door No 4 and a half, Lincoln, July 2023
Black door No 4 and a half, Lincoln, July 2023
24 pannelled door, Lincoln, July 2023
24 panelled door, Lincoln, July 2023
Blue door and iron gate, Lincoln, July 2023
Blue door and iron gate, Lincoln, July 2023

Next time will be the final post from Lincoln (I promise) and then on to doors from five locations in Italy, some doors from Cornwall, Cleethorpes and Exeter to follow. That’ll keep me going until Easter I would think. Have a great end of week and weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 28 September 2023

Doors 236 – Lincoln City doors (Part VIII) – Gateways of Lincoln

This September, and the months leading up to it, has been an incredibly busy time for me at work, landing four major projects. I hope that things will start to calm down a bit and that I will have a bit more time to allow space for creativity and imagination. I have found it difficult to keep my blog posts going through this period, but have managed to maintain the discipline, which is good for my mental health. Unfortunately the haikus have dropped off, but I am excited to get back into a rhythm with them.

I will be treating myself to a few days in Cornwall on my annual fishing trip, starting tonight and it is the perfect way to ‘come down’ from such high intensity.

This week I pick up with some more Lincoln doors which I have broadly themed into gateways, most of which would have had gates or doors at some point. After this week, I think there might be a fun leftovers post, before moving on to some Italian treats from the summer. Here we go:

Little and large gates, Lincoln, July 2023
Little and large gates, Lincoln, July 2023
Exchequer Gate, Lincoln, July 2023
Exchequer Gate, Lincoln, July 2023
Lincoln Guildhall gateway from the north, Lincoln, July 2023
Lincoln Guildhall gateway from the north, Lincoln, July 2023
Lincoln Guildhall gateway from the south, Lincoln, July 2023
Lincoln Guildhall gateway from the south, Lincoln, July 2023
Priory Arch gateway, Lincoln, July 2023
Priory Arch gateway, Lincoln, July 2023
Stokes High Bridge over the River Witham, Lincoln, July 2023
Stokes High Bridge over the River Witham, Lincoln, July 2023

OK, so a bridge with a Tudor building over a river isn’t technically a gateway, but is is a rather impressive sight and one I wanted to include. The doors below were up the passage way on the right of the building, near the spiral fire escape.

Tudor door, Stokes High Bridge, Lincoln, July 2023
Tudor door, Stokes High Bridge, Lincoln, July 2023
Side entrance door, Stokes High Bridge, Lincoln, July 2023
Side entrance door, Stokes High Bridge, Lincoln, July 2023

One final push with work this morning before I go on my escape. I hope you have a great end of week and weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

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Thursday Doors – 14 September 2023 – Lincoln

Doors 234 – Lincoln City doors (Part VII) – Ghost doors of Lincoln

It is an exceptionally busy work day today, but I wanted to keep the momentum going with Thursday doors, so here is a quick one from Lincoln with a favourite theme of mine, ghost doors, and a couple of crazy ancient walls thrown in. My son is an apprentice stone mason, so this post is for him really. I hope you enjoy it.

Ghost door, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door on an ecclesiastical building, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door on an ecclesiastical building, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door or perhaps a ghost gate, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door or perhaps a ghost gate, Lincoln, July 2023
a hotchpotch of stonework with a recessed ghost window and lintel? Lincoln, July 2023
a hotchpotch of stonework with a recessed ghost window and lintel? Lincoln, July 2023
wall with wall repair and is thast a little doorway that has been filled in on the right? Lincoln, July 2023
wall with wall repair and is thast a little doorway that has been filled in on the right? Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door but the fan light remains, Lincoln, July 2023
Ghost door but the fan light remains, Lincoln, July 2023

That’s it for this week. Have a fabulous weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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Thursday doors – 31 August 2023 – Lincoln

Doors 232 – Lincoln City doors (Part V) – Lincoln, the old city

Anyone might think I was a little obsessed with doors, and the fact that this is the fifth instalment of doors from a trip to Lincoln in July, they’d probably be right. Just wait until I unleash the Italian doors from our August family holiday in Umbria – my poor, long-suffering family.

This week’s doors are all from the rather well-to-do area of the old city around the beautiful Cathedral. Many of the houses are Georgian, but some are considerably older and some more recent, all of them are well looked after and in good condition commensurate with the wealth of the neighbourhood. This selection is a real hardcore ‘door person’ st of doors – I hope you enjoy them.

Black door, Lincoln, July 2023
Black door, Lincoln, July 2023

Red door with flat roofed awning, Lincoln, July 2023
Red door with flat roofed awning and boot scraper, Lincoln, July 2023

Blue door and reflected cloudes in the window, Lincoln, July 2023
Blue door and reflected cloudes in the window, Lincoln, July 2023

Green Georgian door with boot scrapers either side, Lincoln, July 2023
Green Georgian door with boot scrapers either side, Lincoln, July 2023

Red door and open segmental pediment, Lincoln, July 2023
Red door and open segmental pediment, Lincoln, July 2023

Grey-green door with portico and an iron garden gate, Lincoln, July 2023
Grey-green door with portico and an iron garden gate, Lincoln, July 2023

Fancy black door and windows, with tiled decorations above, Lincoln, July 2023
Fancy black door and windows, with tiled decorations above, Lincoln, July 2023

I expect you are a little bored with Lincoln doors by now, but I’m afraid there are more to come next time, perhaps something a little different. Have a greaat weekend.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

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