Duomo of San Giorgio, Modica, Italy

The Duomo of San Giorgio is a Baroque church located in Modica. The building is the final result of the eighteenth century reconstruction, which took place following the disastrous earthquakes that struck Modica in 1542, in 1613 and in 1693. The reconstruction started in 1702, and ended in 1738. Further works were made until the affixing of the iron cross on the spire in 1842, which marked the definitive appearance of the church.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Asher Berry (8 months ago)
Stunning, inside and out

Will Falconer (9 months ago)
Just walking up all those steps is a pilgrimage in itself

Daniele Lombardo (10 months ago)
P 6. X .bc

Nate Lauer (2 years ago)
Quite the church. We were there towards nightfall and limited lighting obstructed some of the visibility of San Giorgio. The Cathedral is scenic from its exterior as well with flights of stairs cascading down to the street below. It was certainly worth the visit and you should make sure it is on your to do list if you are nearby.

Jacob Peck (2 years ago)
What can I say, its a must see in Modica. Lots of steps to climb but you can also drive up near the top to avoid most of the climb. Lovely church with some interesting astrological symbols in the floor near the altar.

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Angelokastro

Angelokastro is a Byzantine castle on the island of Corfu. It is located at the top of the highest peak of the island"s shoreline in the northwest coast near Palaiokastritsa and built on particularly precipitous and rocky terrain. It stands 305 m on a steep cliff above the sea and surveys the City of Corfu and the mountains of mainland Greece to the southeast and a wide area of Corfu toward the northeast and northwest.

Angelokastro is one of the most important fortified complexes of Corfu. It was an acropolis which surveyed the region all the way to the southern Adriatic and presented a formidable strategic vantage point to the occupant of the castle.

Angelokastro formed a defensive triangle with the castles of Gardiki and Kassiopi, which covered Corfu"s defences to the south, northwest and northeast.

The castle never fell, despite frequent sieges and attempts at conquering it through the centuries, and played a decisive role in defending the island against pirate incursions and during three sieges of Corfu by the Ottomans, significantly contributing to their defeat.

During invasions it helped shelter the local peasant population. The villagers also fought against the invaders playing an active role in the defence of the castle.

The exact period of the building of the castle is not known, but it has often been attributed to the reigns of Michael I Komnenos and his son Michael II Komnenos. The first documentary evidence for the fortress dates to 1272, when Giordano di San Felice took possession of it for Charles of Anjou, who had seized Corfu from Manfred, King of Sicily in 1267.

From 1387 to the end of the 16th century, Angelokastro was the official capital of Corfu and the seat of the Provveditore Generale del Levante, governor of the Ionian islands and commander of the Venetian fleet, which was stationed in Corfu.

The governor of the castle (the castellan) was normally appointed by the City council of Corfu and was chosen amongst the noblemen of the island.

Angelokastro is considered one of the most imposing architectural remains in the Ionian Islands.

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