San Lorenzo is a Baroque-style Roman Catholic church building in Melfi. The octagonal church was initially built in the 1000s by the Byzantine rulers of the city, and was soon occupied by canons belonging to the nearby Abbey of Monticchio. In 1500, it became a parish church.
The church has suffered damage over the centuries from the earthquakes. The present portal and long stairs appears to date to the 17th century. The adjacent bell-tower, rebuilt in the 14th century by the family of Niccolo Acciaiuoli, has since collapsed, and only the base remains. In 2015, the church underwent refurbishment including demolishing a parish house built to the left of the entrance portal.
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.