Harju-Risti Church, Padise, Estonia

The Church of the Holy Cross is a medieval Gothic style building with a peculiar shaped tower. Construction started in the 13th century and was completed in the first half of the 15th century. The church was originally built with a round tower, however during the first half of 17th century half of the top of the tower collapsed.

There are two tombs from the 15th century and a pulpit from the 17th century inside the church.

Reference: 7is7.com

User Reviews

Alexander Sudovykh (11 months ago)
Очень интересное место. Будете рядом - не поленитесь заехать. Понравится всей семье. Старинная красивая церковь. С органом. Можно подняться на башню непосредственно к колоколам, откуда открывается прекрасный вид на окрестности. Около церкви есть детская площадка, а в самой церкви детская комната. Также на втором этаже есть небольшое кафе, с очень атмосферной зоной отдыха, оборудованной непосредственно в нишах стен церкви. Кафе бесплатное, самообслуживание. Но не поленитесь захватить копеечку в качестве пожертвования, мне кажется, это правильно?

Kaupo Lepasepp (2 years ago)
Nice small church with rich history and warm people. Worth a stop, a walk in the church, yard and climb to the tower.

carol merzin (2 years ago)
Beatiful old small church

Dominic Arbuthnott (3 years ago)
Charming church with its own cafe and the ability to look at the vaulting. Worth a visit

Anton Purin (3 years ago)
Very friendly place, you can go to the tower, they even have little self service cafe there with coffee and cookies.

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Royal Palace of Naples was one of the four residences near Naples used by the Bourbon Kings during their rule of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (1734-1860): the others were the palaces of Caserta, Capodimonte overlooking Naples, and the third Portici, on the slopes of Vesuvius.

Construction on the present building was begun in the 17th century by the architect Domenico Fontana. Intended to house the King Philip III of Spain on a visit never fulfilled to this part of his kingdom, instead it initially housed the Viceroy Fernando Ruiz de Castro, count of Lemos. By 1616, the facade had been completed, and by 1620, the interior was frescoed by Battistello Caracciolo, Giovanni Balducci, and Belisario Corenzio. The decoration of the Royal Chapel of Assumption was not completed until 1644 by Antonio Picchiatti.

In 1734, with the arrival of Charles III of Spain to Naples, the palace became the royal residence of the Bourbons. On the occasion of his marriage to Maria Amalia of Saxony in 1738, Francesco De Mura and Domenico Antonio Vaccaro helped remodel the interior. Further modernization took place under Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. In 1768, on the occasion of his marriage to Maria Carolina of Austria, under the direction of Ferdinando Fuga, the great hall was rebuilt and the court theater added. During the second half of the 18th century, a 'new wing' was added, which in 1927 became the Vittorio Emanuele III National Library. By the 18th century, the royal residence was moved to Reggia of Caserta, as that inland town was more defensible from naval assault, as well as more distant from the often-rebellious populace of Naples.

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In 1922, it was decided to transfer here the contents of the National Library. The transfer of library collections was made by 1925.

The library suffered from bombing during World War II and the subsequent military occupation of the building caused serious damage. Today, the palace and adjacent grounds house the famous Teatro San Carlo, the smaller Teatrino di Corte (recently restored), the Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, a museum, and offices, including those of the regional tourist board.

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