The now-conserved church of the Smolensk Icon of the Theotokos in Alabuzino, Russia, which resembles a real palace.
The photo was taken shortly before the conservation work started - now all vegetation has been removed from the building and around it, and the building itself is covered with a temporary roof, which cannot but be pleasing - but, of course, does not contribute to its romantic appearance.
The photo was taken shortly before the conservation work started - now all vegetation has been removed from the building and around it, and the building itself is covered with a temporary roof, which cannot but be pleasing - but, of course, does not contribute to its romantic appearance.
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Although the Oriental influence on Georgian architecture was not as strong as on Armenian architecture, it was still very significant - and like the Armenians, the Georgians adopted such a typically Oriental type of building as the caravanserai. However, most of the medieval serais now lie in ruins - and only in Tbilisi have a number of buildings of this category survived. All of them, however, were built after Georgia's accession to Russia - and therefore more resemble ordinary hotels, like this caravanserai of Queen Tekla, now serving as a revived Theological Seminary.
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Perched on a sheer cliff and connected to the outside world by narrow staircases and a huge bridge, the abandoned Katholiko Monastery in Greece was built in a typical Venetian-era blend of Gothic and Mannerist style. Its seemingly impregnable appearance, however, did not help it escape pirate raids - and although the monastery has now been partially restored and the main church-cave is operational, it has never been fully revived.
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