Castles

NOTES: Castel Sant'Angelo was originally constructed as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian in 135-139 AD. The bridge, built at the same time to connect the mausoleum to the Campus Martius, was named Ponte Elio (Pons Aelius). When the mausoleum became a castle in 401 AD, it was renamed Castel Sant'Angelo and the bridge took the same name.

NOTES: The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace and various ancilliary buildings, gardens and moat. Construction began in 1601 and was completed in 1626. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns.

NOTES: The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace and various ancilliary buildings, gardens and moat. Construction began in 1601 and was completed in 1626. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns.

NOTES: The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace and various ancilliary buildings, gardens and moat. Construction began in 1601 and was completed in 1626. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns.

NOTES: The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace and various ancilliary buildings, gardens and moat. Construction began in 1601 and was completed in 1626. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns.

NOTES: The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace and various ancilliary buildings, gardens and moat. Construction began in 1601 and was completed in 1626. It was built as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns.

NOTES: Himeji Castle is the finest example of Japanese castle architecture. It comprises a network of 83 buildings, with fortifications. The castle is also known as the White Egret (Hakuro-jo) or White Heron (Shirasagi-jo) for its brilliant white exterior and resemblance to a bird taking flight. The castle was originally built as a hillfort in 1333. In 1346 it was dismantled and remodelled as a castle. It was significantly remodelled over the next three centuries and completely rebuilt 1601-1609. It has survived bombings and earthquakes and remains intact. It was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and has recently undergone an extensive restoration programme, which has restored the formerly grey roof to its original brilliant white colour. It re-opened in 2015.

NOTES: Himeji Castle is the finest example of Japanese castle architecture. It comprises a network of 83 buildings, with fortifications. The castle is also known as the White Egret (Hakuro-jo) or White Heron (Shirasagi-jo) for its brilliant white exterior and resemblance to a bird taking flight. The castle was originally built as a hillfort in 1333. In 1346 it was dismantled and remodelled as a castle. It was significantly remodelled over the next three centuries and completely rebuilt 1601-1609. It has survived bombings and earthquakes and remains intact. It was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and has recently undergone an extensive restoration programme, which has restored the formerly grey roof to its original brilliant white colour. It re-opened in 2015.

NOTES: Himeji Castle is the finest example of Japanese castle architecture. It comprises a network of 83 buildings, with fortifications. The castle is also known as the White Egret (Hakuro-jo) or White Heron (Shirasagi-jo) for its brilliant white exterior and resemblance to a bird taking flight. The castle was originally built as a hillfort in 1333. In 1346 it was dismantled and remodelled as a castle. It was significantly remodelled over the next three centuries and completely rebuilt 1601-1609. It has survived bombings and earthquakes and remains intact. It was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and has recently undergone an extensive restoration programme, which has restored the formerly grey roof to its original brilliant white colour. It re-opened in 2015.

NOTES: Himeji Castle is the finest example of Japanese castle architecture. It comprises a network of 83 buildings, with fortifications. The castle is also known as the White Egret (Hakuro-jo) or White Heron (Shirasagi-jo) for its brilliant white exterior and resemblance to a bird taking flight. The castle was originally built as a hillfort in 1333. In 1346 it was dismantled and remodelled as a castle. It was significantly remodelled over the next three centuries and completely rebuilt 1601-1609. It has survived bombings and earthquakes and remains intact. It was nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and has recently undergone an extensive restoration programme, which has restored the formerly grey roof to its original brilliant white colour. It re-opened in 2015.