They say that love cannot be described in words. It is a feeling of fulfillment that moves mountains and that almost everyone feels for someone. This feeling has always existed and is a source of inspiration for literature, music and the arts. You can also see monuments inspired by love, colossal structures created to pay homage to that loved one.
Monuments inspired by love around the world.
In different parts of the world you can find monuments built for love. They are the tribute that powerful men, or not so powerful, made to their loved ones.
Taj Mahal
It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Made entirely of marble, it is located in India. The eternal love he felt for his wife motivated the man to build the palace.
Shah Jahan, owner of the throne of the Mughal Empire, adored his queen, whom he called Mumtaz Mahal (the chosen one of the palace). All the love he lavished on her could not prevent her death when she gave birth to her 14th child. Before her death, the queen asked the Shah to build her the most beautiful tomb ever.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens
They are located in Salzburg, Austria. They were built by Prince Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau for his wife, Princess Salome Alt in 1606. The couple had fifteen children and the palace was inspired by the couple’s love in making their dreams come true. Although the palace and gardens were modified over time, the interiors remain as they were built.
Its facade features a mixture of architectural styles, including baroque and rococo. Inside, beautiful rooms decorated with frescoes, statues and ornamental details can be appreciated. The Mirabell Gardens, known as the “Gardens of Joy”, are famous for their symmetrical design and impressive decorative elements.
Kodai.Ji Temple
Its setting is the Higashiyama Rozen Mountains in Kyoto, Japan, and it is a famous Buddhist temple. It was inspired by the love of a woman, Kita no Mandokoro, for her late husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
The building combines elements of different Japanese architectural styles, such as samurai, Buddhist and shoin. Today, it can be visited as a historical site.
Temple of Nefertari
It is located in Egypt. It was built by Ramses II out of love for his wife, Nefertari. It is said that the work took his wife’s breath away. In the temple you can see the eternal dedication, which he wrote to her “this eternal work is for my wife Nefertari, for whom the sun shines”. It is carved into the living rock of the mountain and is located on the west bank of the Nile River.
Thornewood Castle
It is located in Washington State, United States. It was built by Chester Thorne for his wife Anne. Thorne bought 4 acres in the town of Lakewood, Washington.
Also, he purchased a 400-year-old Elizabethan castle in England, which he tore down. He subsequently loaded the demolished castle onto three ships and had it rebuilt brick by brick on the four acres purchased in Washington.
