From antiquity to revival styles, ceilings have always been the highlight of the building. Whether decorated with hand-painted frescoes, mosaics, beams or arches, these elements seem to remind us to look up to the sky. What's more, they force us to stop in order to fully appreciate their beauty.
Let's check in these ceilings with the editor~
萨梅扎诺城堡(Sammezzano Castle)佛罗伦萨
Historical sources show that the castle here dates back to the eighth century. The 19th-century German scholar Robert Davidsohn, in his Storia di Firenze, recounts a story in which Charlemagne stopped at the castle on his way back from Rome in 780 AD. The building was not in the Moorish style seen today, and later remodeling work began in 1843 and lasted until 1889.
The castle's owner, Marquis Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes of Aragon, was a politician, collector, and owner of the castle who wanted to modernize his property, inspired by the Moorish Revival style that was popular at the time. Now, the castle is like a fantasy of colors and shapes, freely combining the motifs and elements of the Mughal Empire in India with the Moorish wonders of Andalusia in Spain. As you stroll through this unique space, you may feel like you're inside a huge and delicate box of jewelry.
Pantheon (Rome)
The Pantheon of Rome, located in the Piña district, is one of the most stunning engineering achievements of ancient Rome. Today, the "Temple of All Gods" is a Christian basilica. The design is attributed to Apollodorus of Damascus, an architect and engineer who received several commissions from Emperor Trajan. The temple was built in the Hadrian style, combining elements of Greek classicism and Roman engineering. The Pantheon is unique: its dome is not only one of the most beautiful ceilings in the world, but it still holds the record for the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, larger in diameter than the domes of St. Peter's Basilica and Hagia Sophia. At the apex, the checkered decoration is punctuated by a circular skylight, illuminating the space with natural light.
Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Istanbul)
Istanbul's Sultanahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, is one of Istanbul's landmarks and has many monuments in the city. The blue color takes its name from the 21,043 turquoise tiles on the mosque's dome and walls. This amazing ceiling is a celebration of the skill of local artisans, with 17th-century masterpieces covered with Mahlika tiles from Iznik (formerly Nicaea) and decorated with columns and arches. Here, light enters through 260 different small windows.
Alhambra (Granada, Spain)
The Alhambra, which means "red palace" in Arabic, is the pinnacle of Moorish architecture in Andalusia and is a unique palace complex. Spread over about 35 acres of buildings and gardens, it has lavish halls, balconies overlooking Granada, courtyards with fountain pools, landscaped terraces, numerous complex domes, a harem and baths. The complex even includes its own summer resort, the summer residence of the "universal wind". The Abencherach Hall has one of the finest ceilings in the world. A poem on the wall reads: "Its dome has both obvious and hidden charms." "Its octagonal ceiling is adorned with hundreds of stalactites.
Palais National, Geneva (Switzerland)
The General Assembly Hall of the Alliance of Human Rights and Civilizations, formerly known as Room XX, is one of the largest chambers in the Palais Nacional in Geneva. Its redesign took more than two years to complete, and now this room houses a huge oil painting ceiling created by Spanish abstract artist Miguel Barceló. Barceló used more than 100 tons of pigments from all over the world to create this unique piece, which was unveiled in 2008. Described by some as the "Sistine Chapel of the 21st century", Barceló's frescoes are a sea of colors with red, blue, and green tips emerging from the background.
Summer Palace (Beijing, China)
The Summer Palace was built in the 18th century during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and is a traditional Chinese architectural style. One of the most striking is the octagonal tower. The ceiling on the top floor is a staggered pattern of multi-colored beams, showing how structural elements are central to the overall design. On the blue base, the sections decorated with landscape and floral motifs are interspersed with text. The part of the exterior wooden roof, painted brick-red, can be glimpsed in the background.
La Brewster Hall, National Library of France (Paris)
Although overshadowed by some of the more famous sights of Paris, the La Rouster Room is a beautiful reading room at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, right next to Paris. In 1854, the architect Henri LaBruster began construction on the basis of a design. He had just completed the library of Saint-Geneviève, located in the 5th arrondissement on the other side of the Seine, and immediately after the construction of this square room on the other side of the Seine. The design is said to have been inspired both by the monumental architecture of ancient Byzantium and by the hanging cages of herringbone skirts, which were popular in the 1850s. It's a striking combination of fashion and architecture.
Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)
The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona has already set a record, and a second is on the way. It is currently the tallest building in the Catalan capital, and when its tallest spire is completed, it will be the tallest church in the world. Although its name is closely associated with Antoni Gaudí, in fact, the architect took over the project from Francisco de Paula Vera at the end of 1883, a year after the laying of the foundation stone. The ceiling is inspired by trees, with 20 geometric stars framed by towering columns. The yellows, reds, greens and blues that sprinkle the vaults of the ceiling, thanks to the sunlight that shines through Joan Vera Grau's stained glass windows, create an ever-changing pattern of colour and light for the interior of the church. The Sagrada Familia is undoubtedly the most impressive and unique project of Gaudí's career, which spanned more than 40 years. The part of the temple designed by this famous architect was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Sistine Chapel (Rome)
The ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace inside Vatican City are among the most famous works of art in the world. Painted between 1508 and 1512 by Michelangelo, a genius of the Renaissance, it was commissioned by Pope Juliet II. The Sistine Chapel has a ceiling area of about 5,000 square feet and is divided into nine main sections, each depicting a story from Genesis, covering the creation of the world to the story of Noah. In the center of the ceiling is one of the most iconic images in the history of art: the creation of Adam, in which God is depicted as a majestic, bearded figure who reaches out and touches Adam's hand, thus infusing humanity with a spark of life. In addition to The Creation of Adam, other panels depict the ascension of Christ from The Great Flood and The Last Judgment. The artistic grandeur and symbolic complexity of the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel reflect Michelangelo's extraordinary talent and deep spirituality. These works of art continue to inspire and bewitch people, confirming their status as timeless masterpieces.
Alcázar Palace Ambassador's Room (Seville)
The gilded ceiling of the Ambassador's Room in the Alcázar Palace in Seville is an artistic marvel that conveys a message of power, culture and splendor. This ceiling, decorated with intricate details and sparkling gilding, is a masterpiece of Mudejar craftsmanship that reflects the characteristics of the Renaissance Andalusian cultural mix. The gilded ceiling creates a gorgeous atmosphere and is intoxicating with its overlay light and warm effect. The geometric motifs of the arabesque blend harmoniously with Christian images, testifying to the coexistence and mutual influence between different artistic traditions and cultures. Every detail of the gilded ceiling is imbued with symbolism and meaning, from the use of botanical motifs representing fertility and rebirth to depicting mythical creatures that symbolize strength and spirituality.