Reaching the sky has always been one of the aspirations of the human being. A sky that was often referred to as the place of divinity, the home of the gods, heaven
Mythology tells us of Icarus, who got too close to the sun with wax wings, but above all of the Tower of Babel, built to reach heaven, and which historians place in Iraq, in ancient Babylon
Many towers were then built, with the most diverse purposes, but always made to reach the sky.
Towers to be heard or to call to prayer, such as the bell towers and minarets, which are seen from afar and serve as a reference point for the faithful.
But also buildings that were used to be seen from afar, such as lighthouses, or to see far away and be able to defend oneself, such as the towers of the castles, up to architectural challenges such as the Eiffel Tower.
In the last century building tall buildings has been the subject of a continuous challenge between nations, and a challenge between architects, to build the building that could “reach the sky”. Buildings that rise high, thin and pointed, almost images of rockets that seem ready to detach and fly.
A few days ago I visited Tambre, a small town in the Venetian Alps, and was struck by the sight of a sculpture next to the church tower, with one hand reaching out to touch the sky. I decided to photograph it and add it in Maps.
When I got home, I did a search of my uploaded images in Google Photo, using “tower” as a keyword.
Unexpectedly hundreds of images were found, so I thought I’d talk about them, then inviting Local Guides to share their images of towers
Towers that sprout in the fog, like the Jesolo Lighthouse, which guides the boats towards the safe entrance of the port, or like this hotel that evokes indefinite panoramas in the sunset
Famous towers, such as the unforgettable Tour Eiffel, or the Campanile di San Marco, capable of attracting millions of tourists every year
Towers made to protect and to look into the distance, like those of castles, or walled cities. Where I live, there are many walled cities, small, medieval, and very interesting to visit. I wrote in past about a couple of them:
Montagnana - Exploring the walled city
Vallo di Nera - The Castle of the Valley
I had to make a choice, there would be many more images to add, of different towers and skylines.
Of some of these I have already told the story, but I will be happy to add if you are cured. In the meantime, I am waiting for your stories and your images of the buildings around you made to reach the sky