Latest news with #Byzantine-style
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vladimir Putin: Inside Russian President, Vladimir Putin's, gilded apartment in Kremlin: Gold holdings, high ceilings and much more
Credit: X/@onlydjole From Grand Piano to Home Chapel Credit: X/@onlydjole Personal moments and political undertones Credit: X/@onlydjole All eyes are on Vladimir Putin 's personal residence this week after the Russian president allowed state journalist Pavel Zarubin and his camera crew to step inside for a rare televised tour. Aired as part of a special documentary marking Putin's 25 years in power, the footage reveals a grand apartment steeped in opulence, tradition, and symbolism — offering an unprecedented window into the private life of Russia's longest-serving leader since the cameras roll, Putin welcomes Zarubin into a vast corridor lined with suits and shirts. 'Everything is here,' Putin remarks, opening a set of gold-edged doors. The space is a carefully curated reflection of authority and taste, defined by its lavish décor — gold chandeliers, high ceilings, heavy drapes, and gold-framed mirrors at every turn. 'As you can see, it's not far away,' he adds, referring to the apartment's close proximity to the Kremlin .In the sitting room, viewers are shown a pristine white baby grand piano placed by a large window. Putin admits he 'rarely' finds time to play it. The room, layered in rich textures and warm light, once hosted former U.S. President Bill Clinton, according to Putin. A portrait of Russian Emperor Alexander III is prominently placed on a table — a symbol of historical continuity that echoes through the rest of the apartment includes a private library with detailed wood paneling, luxurious bedrooms, and a small chapel adorned with Byzantine-style paintings and towering golden candelabras. Putin says he uses the chapel to pray. There's also a home gym — which he calls the 'most important part' of the apartment — filled with strength-training equipment and a mirrored wall. He tells Zarubin he exercises for 1.5 hours daily.A particularly intimate moment occurs in the kitchen, where Putin offers kefir to the crew and sets out a tray of chocolates, which he notes were a gift. The scene then shifts to a grand dining room, where the Russian leader sits for an interview. 'I always think about it,' he says when asked about a succession plan. 'In the end, the choice is for the people, for the Russian people, for citizens, who have a chance to do something serious.'In a wood-paneled lounge, Putin demonstrates how a pull-down screen transforms the room into a private cinema. Such features point to his careful attention to comfort and personal rituals, even within the framework of state is not the first time Putin's apartment has been a site of diplomatic engagement. In 2023, he hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping here for fireside negotiations — a fact he referenced after the talks, saying the two discussed matters 'gradually, over tea.'While this Moscow residence is striking, it is reportedly just one of several homes Putin has refurbished to reflect his evolving aesthetic. According to Daily Mail UK reporting in 2024, Putin oversaw a significant overhaul of his billion-dollar Black Sea palace, replacing ornate gold flourishes with traditional Russian materials and full version of Putin's apartment tour with Zarubin is scheduled to air this Sunday. Until then, the snippets already online have stirred global curiosity — not just for the interior design, but for the rare peek behind the curtain of one of the world's most secretive leaders.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Putin offers rare glimpse inside his gilded Kremlin apartment — complete with baby grand piano
Vladimir Putin has given a rare tour of his home near the Kremlin, featuring gilded wood panelling, a white baby grand piano, and a home gym. The corridor of the spacious apartment is lined with clothes racks filled with suits and shirts. 'Everything is here,' the Russian president said, opening the gold-edged doors. 'As you can see, it's not far away,' he says while bringing the camera crew into a sitting room, suggesting the apartment is close to the Kremlin. It's an insight into the private life of Putin, who opened his home for a state media documentary to mark 25 years as leader. Putin said he has spent the last three years mostly living in the city apartment - having launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. When the state media journalists posits that Ukraine and the West have wanted to provoke Russia over the past three years, Putin said that was correct. 'They wanted us to make mistakes,' Putin said, adding he hoped there would be no need to use nuclear weapons. A gilded sitting room with heavy layered curtains and pale sofas that Putin said he once hosted former US president Bill Clinton in also features a white baby grand piano, which Putin said he 'rarely' has time to play. In the footage, he invites the film crew into a small kitchen and offers them kefir to drink, and plates some chocolates that Putin said were a gift. They then sit in a much larger dining room, complete with gold-framed mirrors and high ceilings for an interview. Asked about any succession plan, Putin said, 'I always think about it'. 'In the end, the choice is for the people, for the Russian people, for citizens, who have a chance to do something serious,' he said. 'The chances of truly achieving something are slim for a person who doesn't have the trust of the people behind them.' During the tour Putin showed off the 'most important part' of the apartment which is his home gym, filled with exercise and weight machines and a mirrored wall. Putin told the journalist he spends 1.5 hours a day exercising. In an ornate, wood-pannelled room, Putin points to a projector screen that can be pulled down to transform the room into a cinema. Putin also showed off his home chapel, replete with Byzantine-style paintings, large golden candelabras and more gilding. Putin said he used the chapel to pray.
The Age
30-04-2025
- The Age
Port guide: Venice, Italy
This floating city is packed with churches, palaces and art. Although overcrowded and maddening, it's impossible not to fall under Venice's spell. Who goes there Venice has long been a key port for cruises in the Adriatic and wider eastern Mediterranean, so you'll have no shortage of cruise lines to choose from, as just about all sail there – or technically speaking, to ports nearby. CroisiEurope, European Waterways and Uniworld operate river ships from Venice itself around the Venetian Lagoon. Sail on in Large ocean ships have been relocated from Venice centre, so you'll only get a distant view of the floating city and, on a clear day, the Italian Alps behind. On a river-cruise ship, though, you'll be dazzled as you sail past St Mark's Square, the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and buildings encrusted with gargoyles, angels, balconies and belfries. Berth rites A ban on larger cruise ships has seen other, quite distant ports such as Chioggia, Ravenna and Trieste slowly take over, so check what 'Venice' on your schedule really means. The closest docks are now at Fusina and Marghera on the mainland. Some cruise lines may still check you in at the old Marittima cruise terminal at the edge of the historic centre and transfer you by shuttle. River ships continue to dock at Marittima or on San Basilio and Santa Marta piers in Venice. Going ashore Part of Venice's pleasures is to wander and find your own favourite corner, canal or view. Key sights however include the gold-laden Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with its fabulous Byzantine-style mosaics, both of which overlook St Mark's Square. You'll also want to see the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, 16th-century San Giorgio Church and the Church Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, which has a Titian altarpiece and splendid tombs. Admire more Titians and Tintorettos at the Galleria dell'Accademia, and modern art at the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-04-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Port guide: Venice, Italy
This floating city is packed with churches, palaces and art. Although overcrowded and maddening, it's impossible not to fall under Venice's spell. Who goes there Venice has long been a key port for cruises in the Adriatic and wider eastern Mediterranean, so you'll have no shortage of cruise lines to choose from, as just about all sail there – or technically speaking, to ports nearby. CroisiEurope, European Waterways and Uniworld operate river ships from Venice itself around the Venetian Lagoon. Sail on in Large ocean ships have been relocated from Venice centre, so you'll only get a distant view of the floating city and, on a clear day, the Italian Alps behind. On a river-cruise ship, though, you'll be dazzled as you sail past St Mark's Square, the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore and buildings encrusted with gargoyles, angels, balconies and belfries. Berth rites A ban on larger cruise ships has seen other, quite distant ports such as Chioggia, Ravenna and Trieste slowly take over, so check what 'Venice' on your schedule really means. The closest docks are now at Fusina and Marghera on the mainland. Some cruise lines may still check you in at the old Marittima cruise terminal at the edge of the historic centre and transfer you by shuttle. River ships continue to dock at Marittima or on San Basilio and Santa Marta piers in Venice. Going ashore Part of Venice's pleasures is to wander and find your own favourite corner, canal or view. Key sights however include the gold-laden Doge's Palace and St Mark's Basilica with its fabulous Byzantine-style mosaics, both of which overlook St Mark's Square. You'll also want to see the Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, 16th-century San Giorgio Church and the Church Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, which has a Titian altarpiece and splendid tombs. Admire more Titians and Tintorettos at the Galleria dell'Accademia, and modern art at the nearby Peggy Guggenheim Collection.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vatican releases pictures of Pope Francis' tomb, as it opens for public viewing
The Vatican released photos of the tomb of Pope Francis, who was buried on Saturday in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The release came Sunday morning, as the tomb opened for public viewing. All the cardinals in Rome are expected to visit the tomb to pay their respects on Sunday afternoon, according to the Vatican. MORE: Key moments from Pope Francis' funeral as mourners bid farewell to late pontiff The cardinals are expected to pass through the Holy Door, visit the tomb, then proceed to the chapel where the Salus Populi Romani, an image of the Virgin Mary, is displayed. MORE: The meaning behind the symbolic items at Pope Francis' funeral Francis reportedly would pray before that Byzantine-style icon of the Madonna before and after each of his foreign trips during his 12 years as pope. Francis, who died last Monday at the age of 88, became on Saturday the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century. He was the first to be buried at St. Mary Major in more than 300 years. Vatican releases pictures of Pope Francis' tomb, as it opens for public viewing originally appeared on
