Exactly 550 years ago, today, Michelangelo was born.

But he didn't just sculpt David and paint the Sistine Chapel — he's also responsible for some of Italy's most iconic architecture.

Rome and Florence wouldn't be as great as they are today without this man... 🧵 1. Sistine Chapel, Vatican City (1473)

The "Last Judgement" is arguably Michelangelo's greatest masterpiece.

But when he was first offered the opportunity to paint the chapel, he almost refused.

He was a sculptor, not a painter, after all...

1,488 years ago, the Hagia Sophia made the impossible seem possible.

It was a masterpiece for its time, with a colossal dome unlike any other the world had ever seen.

Here's how it changed the ancient world forever... 🧵 In the heart of ancient Constantinople, stood the Hagia Sophia, originally built in 537 AD by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I

It was a masterpiece of architecture so great that visitors, "knew not whether they were in heaven or on earth."

What does a rebirth of art, culture and architecture look like?

The Renaissance.

So here are 16 of the most awe-inspiring wonders of this cultural revolution... 🧵 1. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City(1506)

If any building cemented Rome’s status as the home of Christianity, it was this.

The newer (and much grander) basilica replaced the original structure built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century.

2,305 years ago, one building changed the Egyptian world forever.

When it was completed, it stood as the world's tallest man-made structure — second only to the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Here's everything you need to know about the Lighthouse of Alexandria... 🧵 First, with the city itself: Alexandria.

Founded by none other than Alexander the Great himself, in 331 BC.

The story goes that there was no chalk to draw the city plans so Alexander used grains of barely instead.

Its twice the size of the Parthenon — and made from a single piece of stone.

Everything you see here was carved entirely by hand, in just 18 years.

Here's everything you need to know about the greatest marvel of architectural that you've never heard of... 🧵 This is Kailasa Temple, in Maharasha, India.

And it may look like any ordinary ancient wonder, but this is the largest monolithic building in the world.

Meaning it was built in its entirety from just a single piece of rock...

This is a real place — it's Palmanova, in Italy, built 432 years ago.

But why does it look like that?

Here's everything we know about "star" forts and how they completely replaced medieval castles... 🧵 For centuries, traditional medieval castles, with their towering walls were ideal for defending against an invading army.

But in the 15th century, there came a new problem in warfare — gunpowder.

But there also came a clever solution...

This is the Bramante Staircase in the Vatican Museums — an iconic example of the golden ratio.

And it's also one of the most stunning staircases in the world.

The best part? It's not even the best, there are some even more breathtaking... 🧵 1. Palais Garnier, France (1875)

Designed by Charles Garnier, who competed against 171 other architects to create one of Paris' greatest wonders.

This is the Pyramid of Cestius, the only pyramid in Rome.

But contrary to popular belief, it wasn't built alone 2,047 years ago — and neither was it Egyptian.

Here's what we know about Rome's most unusual wonder... 🧵 Rome has a pyramid... but why?

First of all, it was built as a tomb for the magistrate, Gaius Cestius, 12 BC.

And secondly, Rome was going through an era that was obsessed with all things Egypt — obelisks, pyramids and temples.

Believe it or not, this is a real place.

It's a 2,500 year-old town in Italy, called Centuripe, and is known as the "Balcony of Sicily."

So from Italy to Spain to Morocco, here is the breathtaking world of clifftop architecture... 🧵 1. Meteora Monasteries, Kalabaka, Greece (1476)

The name "Meteora" means "in the heavens above" in Greek, aptly describing them perched atop the rock pillars.

Only 6 of the original 24 monasteries remain today.

If you like the Colosseum, then you'll love Roman architecture.

Here are some of the greatest examples... 🧵

1. Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain (112 AD)

It was built without any sort of cement and carried water to the city, all the way up to 1973. 1. Appian Way - Rome, Italy (312 BC)

One of the earliest and most strategically important roads of the Republic and Empire, ending at Brindisi, in southeast Italy.

Believe it or not, this isn't a medieval castle.

In fact, we only discovered it 5 years ago — and it's still being built as we speak.

That's all because this is a prime example of something we call Revivalism... 🧵 We often think of medieval castles as relics of a forgotten era — symbols of feudal power or romantic ruins.

Yet, in the modern world, visionaries are building wonders inspired by this very period.

This is Stobnica Castle.

You've seen it a thousand times before.

It's the Acropolis of Athens, in Greece.

You already know about the Parthenon, but what about all the other buildings surrounding it?

Well, that's where it gets interesting... 🧵 The Acropolis you see today isn't what early, ancient Greece would have seen 2,500 year ago.

And it wasn't made by accident either; this was the result of a deliberate effort led by one man:

Pericles.

If you like the Parthenon, then you'll love ancient Greek architecture.

2,500 years ago, it produced some of the greatest wonders the world has ever seen.

Here are the best ones.. 🧵

1. Temple of Concordia, Sicily, Italy (430 BC) 2. Theater of Epidaurus, Argolis, Greece (4th century BC)

Designed by architect Polykleitos the Younger, this 14,000-seat theater is renowned for its nearly flawless acoustics; even a whisper on stage reaches the highest tier.

Art Deco displayed the greatest era of American culture.

And was aptly named the "golden age" of architecture and design for decades to come.

Here are the masterpieces that built this America... (thread) 🧵

1. The American Radiator Building (1924) 2. The Chrysler Building, NYC (1930)

A stunning feat of engineering topped of with a 185-foot spire - which was hoisted up in just 90 minutes.

Its gargoyles, on the 31st floor, were modeled after Chrysler hood ornaments, symbolizing the great automotive age.

Look Up.

This is what a great ceiling looks like.

It's St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków, Poland, built 700 years ago.

But that's just one breathtaking example, so here are 21 more... 🧵 1. Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France (1248)

This is not a microchip — it's the Forbidden City, in China.

What makes it so special?

600 years ago, it had exactly 9,999 rooms, not a single structure you see here was built with a nail and 40% of the Forbidden City is still "forbidden"... 🧵 The true scale is unprecedented.

That's because it's larger than the White House, Buckingham Palace and Vatican City combined but took just 14 years to build.

So it's amazing but what actually is it?

This is not the ceiling of the Taj Mahal, Notre-Dame or La Sagrada Familia.

It's the Palau de la Música Catalana, in Barcelona

But that's only one architectural wonder of Spain, so here are 21 more... 🧵 1. Casa Battló, Barcelona (1906)

A masterpiece by Antoni Gaudí.

The building’s facade mimics the scales of a dragon.

This may look like an ordinary church, but in reality, it holds an extraordinary secret.

It was built without a single nail, has multiple dragon heads — and is over 800 years old.

It sounds impossible, but this is only where the story begins... 🧵 The Borgund Stave Church, in Norway is one of the most remarkable wooden buildings in existence

It was built in 1180 and is an interesting example of medieval architecture: it has weathered timbers, tiered roofs...

and of course multiple dragon heads, near the top.

The Alhambra isn't really a palace — it's more like a small city.

It was built on Roman ruins and is home to a fountain of 12 lions that can actually tell the time.

So the Alhambra is quite incredible, but that's just the tip of the iceberg... 🧵 There's something interesting about the Alhambra.

That's because it's one of the few examples of Moorish architecture, ever built in Europe.

We begin in Roman ruins, in the 9th century but then nothing happens...until the 13th century, where the story really begins...

You've seen incredible forts before, but not like this.

This is Bourtange Fort in the Netherlands, built just 431 years ago.

And it's a breathtaking example of what we call a "star fort." Here's everything you need to know... 🧵 For centuries, traditional medieval castles, with their towering walls and battlements were ideal for protecting yourself against an invading army.

But in the 15th century, a new problem arose in warfare: gunpowder.

The most beautiful winter towns and cities in the world - a thread 🧵

1. Prague, Czech Republic 2. Grindelwald, Switzerland