Dos Jeronimos Monastery, Lisbon

Lisbon is mind-blowing.  For few years it was the center of the World. When the Portuguese sailors finally found a direct way to trade oriental spices and goods, Lisbon changed forever. It passed from being at the periphery of Europe, to being the center.

This spark of wealth is visible in many of the buildings you can find in the capital. The Church, of course, had its part. This is one of the cloister's arches in the "Dos Jeronimos" Monastery, an obvious demonstration of the power of the period in "Manuelino" architectural style.

Tour Saint-Jacques, Paris, France

The first time I visited Paris, more than 20 years ago, I saw it. I kept that image in mind and I wondered what the history was behind this medieval tower in the center of Paris.

Later a found out that it was a bell tower of a medieval church : "Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie".
It was built in the Sixteenth century and destroyed during the French Revolution. The tower is the only remaining part of the building, just because it had a functional use for experiments and, at that time, it was one of the tallest buildings in the city.

I love the view of it in the middle of the city, the white stone and the little park which Parisian kids play in.