All About Royal Families

One of the most beautiful churches in Rome is without no doubt the Santi Michaele e Magno in Rome. Perhaps this name doesn't say anything to you, but it is better known as the Friezen church in Dutch. Frisian Church in Rome, Italy The Church is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and Bishop Saint Magnus of Anagni. The Santi Michaele e Magno is located on the northern slope of Palazolo Hill in Rione Borgo near the Vatican in Rome. It is the national church dedicated to The Netherlands. Frisian Church in Rome Outside Some history From the 8th. century Frisian pilgrims regularly visited Rome. At the same time a colony of Frisians was living there. The Scola of Frisians was first mentioned by Pope Leo III's return to Rome in 799. In 845, the Frisians defended the Old St. Peter's Basilica against a Saracen invasion. Its patron was St. Michael the Archangel, who liberated Rome from the Plague and it was a favoured Saint during the Lombard...

The Igreja de São Roque or in English the Church of Saint Roch is an amazing beautiful church in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It was the earliest Jesuit Church in Portugal, for more than 200 years, before the Jesuits were expelled. The church is famous for its 18th. century Chapel of St. John the Baptist, at that time it was the most expensive chapel in Europe. With such an expensive chapel, it must be clear that the Church of Saint Roch really has a fantastic royal history. Royal History When Lisbon was being ravaged by the plague, which had arrived by ship from Italy, in 1505, the King and his court were forced to flee the Portuguese capital for a while. The site of São Roque, which was then outside the city walls, became a cemetery for plague victims. At the same time the King of Portugal, Manuel I (reigned from 1495-1521), sent someone to Venice for a relic of St. Roch, the patron of the plague Victims. The relic was sent by the Venetian governmen...

One of the most special churches I've ever seen is without no doubt the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It really is a very big building in a quirky but beautiful style created by Antoni Gaudí. The Sagrada Familia also is listed at the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Neo Gothic Modernist style and its beautiful history. Sagrada Familia in Barcelona 2016 Some history Originally the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia was the inspiration of a bookseller, called Josep Maria Bocabella. He was the founder of the Assoición Espiritual de Devotos de San José. In 1872, Bocabella visited the Vatican. When returning from Italy, he had the intention of building a church inspired by the Basilica at Loreto. On 19 March 1882, the building work started by architect Francisco de Paula del Villar. He had the plan for a Gothic Revival church of a standard form. On 18 March 1883, Francisco de Paula del Villar resigned and Antoni Gaudi assumed responsibil...

On a hot day in May 2019, I visited the Porto Cathedral, a Roman Catholic church located in the historical center of the city of Porto in Portugal. The Cathedral is one of the city's oldest monuments and one of the most important local Romanesque monuments. It also has a very nice royal history. Source picture: Wikipedia Some royal history The building works of the cathedral started around 1147 but it was finished in the 16th. century and even in the 20th century there were renovations. Around 1333, the Gothic chapel of João Gordo was added. João was a Knight Hospitalier who worked for King Denis I of Portugal. The elegant cloister was built between the 14th. and 15th. centuries, during the reign of King John I of Portugal, who married the English Princess Philippa of Lancaster in the Porto Cathedral in 1387. source picture: Wikipedia Philippa of Lancaster was the daughter of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster.  A visit ...

One of the most amazing ancient buildings in Rome, the capital of Italy, is the Pantheon. The Pantheon is an amazing building not only due to its history but also due to its architecture and due to the light effect inside. Pantheon in Rome Italy - own picture taken in 2017 Some Royal History The original Pantheon was completed during the reign of Emperor Hadrian about 126 after Christ as a Roman Temple for all godness. In 609, Byzantine Emperor Pochas gave the Pantheon to Pope Bonifacae IV. He converted it to a Christian church. During the Renaissance the Pantheon has been the burial site of many important persons such as the painter Rafael and the architect Baldassare Peruzzi. In the 17th. century, Pope Urban VIII ordered to melt down the ceilings to use it for the Castel Sant' Angelo. More about the Castel Sant' Angelo on this link .  In modern history two Kings of Italy were buried at the Pantheon: -  Victor Emmanuel II of Italy -  ...