There is a lot of symmetry in the stairs of the State of Virginia Capitol building in Richmond adding character and class of Palladian architecture. Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio. What is today recognized as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and the principles of formal classical architecture from ancient Greek and Roman traditions.
Located in the heart of the city center, the Roman amphitheater at Chester was the largest in Britain. Used for entertainment and military training, there have been two stone-built amphitheaters on the site. The amphitheater was the scene of Britain’s largest archaeological excavation in 2005. A level pavement and footpath surround the excavated areas of the amphitheater (around two-fifths is visible), which have a clear view down to the site. The central theatre area is only accessible via several steps.
Chester is a city in northwest England, founded as a Roman fortress in the 1st century A.D. It’s known for its extensive Roman walls made of local red sandstone. In the old city, the Rows is a shopping district distinguished by 2-level covered arcades and Tudor-style half-timber buildings.
Chester Town Hall was completed in 1869 as a city administration building. The architect William H. Lynn designed the town hall in the Gothic Revival architectural style. It was inspired by Cloth Hall at Ypres in Belgium. The Chester Town Hall is no longer used for administrative purposes. It is now rented for special events like weddings, conferences and other celebrations.
Known for my affinity for elephants, couldn’t resist capturing a small elephant statue in front of the Chester Town Hall!
Examples of standing Roman remains in York are in the Museum Gardens with fine stretches of the fortress wall.
York has, since Roman times, been defended by walls of one form or another. To this day, substantial portions of the walls remain, and York has more miles of intact wall than any other city in England. They are known variously as York City Walls, the Bar Walls and the Roman walls.
Dawlish is an English seaside resort town on the south coast of Devon, England. The name Dawlish derives from a Welsh river name meaning black stream. There was also a Roman translation of Dolfisc, meaning ‘Dark river’ and ‘The Devils Water’.
Dawlish Station
At the top of Glastonbury Tor (in England) is a 14th-century roofless St Michael’s Tower, it is one of the most famous landmarks in Somerset. Excavations on the Tor have revealed some Neolithic flint tools and Roman artifacts, indicating use since ancient times.
At the Top of Tor
Tor Arch View
The historic City of Wells is a medieval city with its history going back to Roman times when there was a settlement, probably because of the springs that bubble up here. Wells gets its name from these springs which can today be found in the gardens of the Bishop’s Palace.
Wells is the smallest city in England with about 12,000 inhabitants. It can call itself a city because of the famous 13th century Cathedral.
Wells, England
The history of Bath, England is intrinsically linked with the natural hot springs that the city is founded upon. In 43 AD Britain was invaded by the Romans and by 75 AD they had built a religious spa complex on the site, which later developed into a bathing and socializing center called Aquae Sulis, ‘the waters of Sulis’.
The baths are routinely drained and cleaned to prevent too much build-up, but even after a good cleaning the algae forms rapidly, giving the bath water its characteristic green hue.
Roman Baths in Bath
Roman Baths by the Cathedral