41 magnificent ceilings from around the world

I once heard someone say that architecture is the art of covering four walls with a roof, and that the entire structure depends on the technique and skills of the architects, finding the best solution to hold it up. Another of the curious things that the architects say, is that buildings tend not to fall, though that's a different story.



The fact is that I have the habit of looking up, to pay attention to how certain iconic constructions are crowned. It is up there where we also find authentic jewels of design such as domes, vaults, stars and other geometric shapes, even holes.



So here is a set of photographs taken from below straight up, with minimal perspective if possible, through very famous buildings to less well known, spanning three continents and over two thousand years of history:



Round Temple Church in London, built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar. The very first image on the top is the Catalan art nouveau masterpiece Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona.

Image by Nick Garrod and previous one by Miguel Mendez Roundin, built in the 12th century by the Knights Templar. The very first image on the top is the Catalan art nouveau masterpiece



The radiant circular chapter house of York Minster, in England. This image has been made using high dynamic range imaging technique (HDR), like many others in this article.

Image by Alex Brown The radiant circular chapter house of, in England. This image has been made using high dynamic range imaging technique (HDR), like many others in this article.



Wells Cathedral: the intricate geometrical pattern of the Lady Chapel, finished in 1326.

Image by Lawrence OP : the intricate geometrical pattern of the Lady Chapel, finished in 1326.



A dark star, or the ceiling of the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona. Amazing how Gaudí created a structure that seems an ultra-modern building of organic architecture. However, it was designed like a hundred years ago. Image by Greg Bailey A dark star, or the ceiling of the, in. Amazing how Gaudí created a structure that seems an ultra-modern building of organic architecture. However, it was designed like a hundred years ago.



Saint Mary's Church, a World Heritage site included in Studley Royal Park, England. This masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture was completed in 1871, just a few years before the construction of Sagrada Família had commenced. I reckon that this picture is a masterpiece too. Image by Nick Garrod , a World Heritage site included in, England. This masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture was completed in 1871, just a few years before the construction of Sagrada Família had commenced. I reckon that this picture is a masterpiece too.



The know-how of the photographer highlights the alluring colors of this wooden ceiling of Sant Bavokerk, Haarlem, Netherlands. Image by Bas Lammers The know-how of the photographer highlights the alluring colors of this wooden ceiling of, Netherlands.



I am not a big fan of the overelaborate and golden Baroque ornaments; That is why I value even more the elegant shapes of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane in Rome, which belongs to this style.

Image by Lawrence OP I am not a big fan of the overelaborate and golden Baroque ornaments; That is why I value even more the elegant shapes ofin, which belongs to this style.



Also in Rome stands the Pantheon, a survivor of the history (126 AD), and one of the most fascinating structures ever built. Image by Phil Oye Also instands the, a survivor of the history (126 AD), and one of the most fascinating structures ever built.



As well representative from the legacy of the ancient world, it is the Maison Carrée (squared house) in Nîmes, France. Image by Xavier de Jauréguiberry As well representative from the legacy of the ancient world, it is the(squared house) in, France.



Not far away in space, but in centuries, is the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde, in Marseille, with its Neo-Bizantine and arabesque decorations. Image by Xavier de Jauréguiberry Not far away in space, but in centuries, is the basilica of, in, with its Neo-Bizantine and arabesque decorations.



Back to England, to aim at the bright crossing of Bury St Edmunds Cathedral.

Image by Barry Crabtree Back to England, to aim at the bright crossing of



This spectacular octagonal lantern over the crossing of the Ely Cathedral, was built after the collapse of the old tower, and finished by 1340. Image by Andrew Sharpe This spectacular octagonal lantern over the crossing of the, was built after the collapse of the old tower, and finished by 1340.



A few miles south from Ely rises the King's College Chapel, in Cambridge. In this photography, the characteristic fan vault is inflamed with light, using the HDR technique. Image by John Kroll A few miles south from Ely rises the, in. In this photography, the characteristic fan vault is inflamed with light, using the HDR technique.



This is an almost lysergic view of the dome of the Church of St Nicholas in Amsterdam, 19th century.

Image by Stuck in Customs This is an almost lysergic view of the dome of thein, 19th century.



Jumping the Pond we get to San Francisco City Hall, reconstructed after the major 1906 Earthquake. Image by Pathos Photos Jumping the Pond we get to, reconstructed after the major 1906 Earthquake.



Church of San Francisco in the Chiloé Archipelago in Chile. The churches of Chiloé are made entirely in timber, and are registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Image by Tim Snell in the Chiloé Archipelago in. The churches of Chiloé are made entirely in timber, and are registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list.



This double white star belongs to the Burgos Cathedral, Spain. Its audacious design was undertaken after that the not less audacious previous dome collapsed, one night of 1539.

Image by Lawrence OP This double white star belongs to the, Spain. Its audacious design was undertaken after that the not less audacious previous dome collapsed, one night of 1539.



I like the perspective of these low arcades, in the crossing of Avila Cathedral, Spain.

Image by Lawrence OP I like the perspective of these low arcades, in the crossing of, Spain.



Vanishing point in Segovia Cathedral, Spain.

Image by Lawrence OP Vanishing point in, Spain.



Without moving from Spain, we change civilization, visiting the splendor of the Moorish palace of the Alhambra, and this stalactite ceiling decoration. Image by Sean Wallis Without moving from Spain, we change civilization, visiting the splendor of the Moorish palace of the, and this stalactite ceiling decoration.



This fantastic vault, dating 1427, represents the universe, although it rather looks like a burning sun. Alcázar of Seville, Spain. You may also wonder Image by Paco Vila This fantastic vault, dating 1427, represents the universe, although it rather looks like a burning sun., Spain. You may also wonder where Warrior Nun is filmed , the Netflix series which was shot here in a section of this awesome historical palace.



Marvelous dome in the Bazaar of Yazd, Iran. Not bad for a shopping centre.

Image by dynamosquito Marvelous dome in the, Iran. Not bad for a shopping centre.



A blue sapphire dome, also found in Yazd, Iran.

Image by Golisnow A blue sapphire dome, also found in, Iran.



Ceiling from the 14th century Persian poet Hafez's tomb in Shiraz, Iran.

Image by dynamosquito Ceiling from the 14th century Persian poet Hafez's tomb in, Iran.



Kaleidoscopic ceiling in the Shah Cheragh shrine at Shiraz, Iran.

Image by dynamosquito Kaleidoscopic ceiling in theshrine at, Iran.



Going further towards the Asiatic east, here comes a famous building: the Taj Mahal, India.

Image by Nick Woodford Going further towards the Asiatic east, here comes a famous building: the, India.



The propulsion engine of a galactic spacecraft from the back? The Ranakpur Jain Temple, India.

Image by Bradnwhs The propulsion engine of a galactic spacecraft from the back?, India.



Ignition! The dome of the Akshardham temple in Delhi, India. Contrary to what might appear, this is one of the newest structures in this list: it was opened in 2005. Image by Deepak Gupta Ignition! The dome of thetemple in, India. Contrary to what might appear, this is one of the newest structures in this list: it was opened in 2005.



Who would say that the Saint Louis baroque church in Sevilla (Spain), would fit into this subcategory of propelled domes? Image by Bruno Girin Who would say that thebaroque church in(Spain), would fit into this subcategory of propelled domes?



We are now in China, looking up into the Temple of Heaven, the symbol of Beijing where the Image by skiena We are now in China, looking up into the, the symbol ofwhere the Mulan house is located.



Nearby, also in Beijing, is the legendary Forbidden City, former home of the emperors.

Image by Joris Machielse Nearby, also in, is the legendary, former home of the emperors.



These are the colors of the Summer Palace, once more in Beijing.

Image by Tom Wachtel These are the colors of the, once more in



A mandala representing the universe, among its many meanings, in a temple in Nepal.

Image by Tiago Pereira A mandala representing the universe, among its many meanings, in a temple in



A colorful dragon at the top of the Lungshan Temple, in Lukang, where are located some of the most spectacular temples of Taiwan. Image by Timogan A colorful dragon at the top of the, in, where are located some of the most spectacular temples of Taiwan.



We are back to Europe, to look under the skirt of the Eiffel Tower, Paris.

Image by FrançoisFromFrance We are back to Europe, to look under the skirt of the



Can-can dancing under the Arc de Triomphe, another Parisian icon.

Image by Jeff Cooney Can-can dancing under the, another Parisian icon.



In Barcelona you can fall under the spell of this magnetic modernist whirlpool, from the Casa Batlló.

Image by Cabbit Inyou can fall under the spell of this magnetic modernist whirlpool, from the



A New Yorker avant-garde touch, provided by the hall of the Guggenheim Museum. This staircase has nothing to do with the Image by Mr Benn A New Yorker avant-garde touch, provided by the hall of the. This staircase has nothing to do with the Joker stairs location



And why not to end the party inside a giant barrel in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland?

Image by Rob Shaw And why not to end the party inside a giant barrel in thein, Ireland?



This set could not be completed without one of the most iconic ceilings of history, the Sistine Chapel, in Rome, even if it is with this original fuzzy 'no photos allowed' version. Image by SknaB nolA This set could not be completed without one of the most iconic ceilings of history, the, in, even if it is with this original fuzzy 'no photos allowed' version.