prussel

I like them too, its always impressive when you step out in to a cloister with its change of light and shadow from a dark and cool church. There is a category "Abbeys, Convents and Monasteries", maybe cloisters fit into. They are often "connecting" a church with the Monastery, some are just "behind" a church surrounded by residential and working quarters - but i'm no historican nor catholic

In Germany we have Unser Dorf hat Zukunft (till 1997 known as Unser Dorf soll schöner werden). In France and Italy are similar awards: le concours des villes et villages fleuris and i borghi più belli d'Italia, there is also an European competition of the European Association for Rural Development and Village Renewal

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as this are very similar (fantastic, mythical or grotesque figures) and often had the same function, it would be a good idea to add chimeras

Will you include door knockers? You'll find them at nearly every (boring) door in southern Europe

Nice idea and addition to the Photos Then and Now, but we must consider the intellectual property rights of the paintings. But if they are older than 70 years, no problem.