Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: sunset

The place was known under the Ancient Greek name "Onchesmus" and may have been a part of a proto-Greek area in early 2nd millennium BC. Bronze Age tools typical of Mycenaean Greece have been unearthed in Sarandë which date c. 1400-1100 BC. It was inhabited by the ancient Greek tribe of the Chaonians. Onchesmos flourished as the port of the Chaonian capital Phoenice (modern-day Finiq). It seems to have been a place of importance in the time of Cicero. Saranda, then under the name of Onchesmos, is held to be the site of Albania's first synagogue, which was built in the 4th or 5th century. It is thought that it was built by the descendants of Jewish captives who arrived on the shores of Albania around 70 CE during the First Jewish–Roman War. Onchesmos' synagogue was supplanted by a church in the 6th century. The city was probably raided by the Ostrogoths in 551 CE while during this period it became the target of piratic raids. In a medieval chronicle of 1191 the settlement appears to be abandoned. In the early 19th century during the rule of Ali Pasha its reported that there existed a small settlement. Sarandë in the late Ottoman period consisted of only a harbour being a simple commercial station without permanent residents. In 1878, a Greek rebellion broke out, with revolutionaries taking control of Sarandë. This was suppressed by Ottoman troops. Greek troops occupied it during the Balkan Wars. Later, the town was included in the newly formed Albanian state in 1913, but this was rejected by the local Greek population, and as the Greek army withdrew to the new border, the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was established. It was then occupied by Italy between 1916 and 1920 as part of the Italian Protectorate on southern Albania. Throughout 1926–1939 of the interwar period, Italy financed extensive improvements to the harbour at Sarandë. Sarandë was a strategic port during the Italian invasion of Greece. During this occupation it was called "Porto Edda" in honor of the eldest daughter of Benito Mussolini. In 1940 the city came under the control of Greek forces. As a result of the German invasion in Greece in April 1941, the town returned to Italian control. In 1944 the town was captured by a group of British commandos and local partisans. The British troops soon withdrew from the region, leaving the region to the Albanian communist forces. As part of the People's Republic of Albania (1945-1991) policies a number of Muslim Albanians were settled from northern Albania in the area. During this period as a result of the atheistic campaign launched by the state the church of Saint Spyridon in the harbor of the city was demolished. In 1991, after the restoration of democracy in Albania a small shrine was erected at the place of the church. Since the fall of communism in Albania, Sarandë has become an important tourist attraction. Tourism is thus the major economic resource, while other resources include services, fisheries and construction. Recently, the town has experienced an uncontrolled construction boom which may hamper the city's future tourism potential. The ruins of Lëkurësi Castle are located on a strategically favourable hill above Sarandë. It was built in 1537 by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent as a defence against the Venetians. Today there is a restaurant next to the castle, from whose terrace you have a good view of the sunset.

Lerma is a small town (pop. 2,500), which occurred by Francisco Gómez de Sandoval y Rojas, Marqués de Denia and Duke of Lerma (1553-1625) in the early 17th century. He was a grandson of the General Jesuit Francisco de Borja and a leading representative of the counter -reformation in Spain. Sunset over the Plaza Mayor

Capri Island in the background

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozens of shots from previous visits, so I´ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Sunset

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. I have already uploaded dozends of shots from previous visits, so ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. Sunset over Canal Grande

The name of the town derives from ancient Greek and translates to "beautiful city". The Greek inhabitants sided with Pyrrhus and Taranto against ancient Rome but after the defeat in 265 BC it became a Roman colony. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it was sacked by the Vandals and the Goths and was under Ostrogothic rule until 538, when it was conquered by the Byzantines. Gallipoli got rebuilt and experienced a period of commercial prosperity. After numerous incursions, the Arabs finally conquered it in 915 and remained here until 945. Reconquered by the Byzantines the first major restructuring and strengthening of the castle went underway. In 1055 it was unsuccessfully sieged by the army of Roberto il Guiscardo who had to retire defeated in 1056. In 1132, after a year of siege, it was occupied by the Normans. In 1268, it was besieged by Charles I of Anjou´s troops. As many inhabitants were able to flee the city during the siege, the city was repopulated around 1300. Gallipoli today is divided into two parts, the modern city ("borgo") and the old city (centro storico). The old town is located on an island, linked to the mainland by a bridge built in the 16th century. Sunset over the Ionian Sea, or more precisely the Gulf of Taranto.

Sunset in La Petite-Pierre, where the Lützelstein castle (Lützelstein - Little Stone - Petit Pierre) was built by the Count of Blieskastel and claimed by the Bishop of Strasbourg in 1223. The Count successfully defended it. In 1533, Lützelstein county was passed to the Palatinate-Zweibrücken and from there passed on to the Count Palatine of Veldenz. After the line got extinct in 1694 Lützelstein was returned to Palatinate-Zweibrücken, but at that time it was a French fief, so it was de facto ruled by the Kingdom of France. Vauban expanded its fortress. In 1801 Lützelstein county was formally annexed by France and was part of the Bas-Rhin department in 1801. After that, the fortress was again expanded, but after the Franco-Prussian War in 1872 it was partly demolished by the Prussians. Since 1801 Lützelstein shared the fate of Alsace. It was German, French, German, French - and changed its name from Lützestein to La Petite-Pierre back and forth.

Ronda was known to the Romans by the name of Arunda. At the end of the Roman Empire it was taken by the Suebi and later part of the Visigoth realm. In 713 it fell to the Berbers, who built a castle on the Roman foundations. The troops of the Marquis of Cádiz conquered Ronda after a siege in 1485. The Spanish decreed that all Muslims must either convert to Christianity or leave Spain without their belongings. Muslims who converted were called Moriscos, they had to wear upon their hats a blue crescent. In 1566 Philip II decreed the use of the Arabic language illegal, required that doors open on Fridays to verify that no Muslim Friday prayers were conducted. This led to a rebellion. The Muslim soldiers defeated the Spanish army sent to suppress them. The massacre prompted Phillip II to order the expulsion of all Moriscos in Ronda. Ronda´s Moorish old town, La Ciudad, is located on a steeply sloping rock plateau. The old town is separated from the younger part, El Mercadillo, by the "Tajo de Ronda" a narrow gorge almost 100 meters deep, formed by the Guadalevín River. Standing at the rim - and watching the sunset.

"San Domenico" dates to 1304, when it was erected over a pre-existing church (known as San Domenico Vecchio), which had become too small after the growth of the Dominican Order. The church was consecrated in 1459. Where on the right the "Basilica di San Pietro" can be seen, was the early seat of Perugia's bishops, existing since the seventh century. Around 1000 a monastery was established here. The church seen was erected around 1600 as the convent´s church.

"Saint Giuliana", seen at sunset. A Cistercian nunnery was established here in 1236. The convent´s church "Saint Giuliana" was built in 1253. During the the Napoleonic period, the nunnery was surpressed and the church was used as a granary. The convent became a military hospital, and still it remains in military ownership. though the church is open for Mass each Sunday.

The sun sets pretty early in winter.

We reached the center of Narni from the carpark, down in the valley, via two elevators. As soon as we had stepped out we felt like in an enchanted place. Fog was all around us. We reached our room - and watched the mystic sunset from the window. I climbed up to the small roof terrace. The tower of "San Giovenale" seen from up there. At that time we did not know, that Narni had a special treat for us that night.

We reached the center of Narni from the carpark, down in the valley, via two elevators. As soon as we had stepped out we felt like in an enchanted place. Fog was all around us. We reached our room - and watched the mystic sunset from the window. We could hardly make out the outlines of the former monastery and the Chiesa di San Francesco, just a few metres away. At that time we did not know, that Narni had a special treat for us that night.

Most of the hotels at the Makarska Riviera are already closed for the winter. We found a still open hotel in Podgora that day. We were the only guests that night. We sipped a drink on the terrace, indulged in the tranquil athmosphere - and watched the sunset..

Just after the sunset, the street lights are switched on in Tkon, a village on the island of Pašman, opposite Biograd na Moru.

Sunset in Pisa. The souvenir vendors close their stalls. In a few hours all tourists will have left the "Piazza dei Miracoli". The buildings will sleep for a couple of hours. When the sun comes up in the early morning - the show will go on.