architecutre – Stylish Heath

Structurally an architectural wonder and aesthetically an incredible monument for both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Hagia Sophia is a former Greek Orthodox cathedral that later became an Ottoman imperial mosque, and is now a museum in the Turkish Republic.

Built in 537 as a cathedral in Constantinople with two floors centered on a nave that holds the great domed ceiling measuring 180 feet above the floor, along with smaller domes that extend upward. An engineering marvel for its time of great architectural beauty.

During the Byzantine period the apse was decorated with mosaics of a representation of the Virgin Mary with a young Jesus Christ on her lap. Most mosaics are made of pieces of stone or glass of different colors known tesserae.

Travel stylishly,
K

This weekend was not spent near a cabin on the lake or on a quiet cove at the beach, and as inviting as these two destinations sound a few of us hit the pavement in NYC visiting museums before exhibits left the city on July 29th. Arriving late on Friday due to traffic, we settled into “Gotham’s” rhythm and spent the evening in SoHo shopping at a few of our favorite haunts.

Last night after dinner we walked the High Line {about 1.45 miles} in the Meat Packing District, which has a unique vantage. A park built on disused land on the former NY Central Railroad lines. You can walk viewing art, and seeing new buildings created by talented architects.