Garden at Monasterio y Museo de la Recoleta, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Arequipa Province, Arequipa Region, Peru, South America

Cloister at the Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzman, Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca State, Mexico

View of Museum and Monastery of Paleokastritsa in Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Ionian Sea, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

Meteora, ancient Great Meteoron Holy Monastery, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora, ancient Great Meteoron Holy Monastery, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora, ancient holy Monastery of Varlaam, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Courtyard in the Cloister, Monastery of the Hieronymites (Mosteiro dos Jeronimos), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

The monastery complex of Wudai Shan (Mount Wutai), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shanxi, China, Asia

Ta Prohm Temple, a Mahayana Buddhist monastery built in the late 12th century for Khmer king Jayavarman VII, Angkor, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Blue section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

Red section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

White section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

View of Museum and Monastery of Paleokastritsa in Palaiokastritsa, Corfu, Ionian Sea, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

The tiny 18th-century Stavropoleos Church is one of the most beautiful religious monuments in the capital of Romania. Tucked away between taller buildings in Bucharest´s Old Town, the monument was originally part of Stavropoleos Monastery

Main church of the Rila Monastery, UNESCO world Heritage Site, Bulgaria, Europe

Blue section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

Blue section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

White section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

St. Michael's Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Aerial of the Monastery of Alcobaca, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alcobaca, Oeste, Portugal, Europe

The Cloister, Jeronimos Monastery (Hieronymites Monastery), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Red section of Cloister and Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Arequipa, Peru, South America

Monument to Princess Olha (Olga) at Mykhaylivska Square in front of St. Michael's Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Sucevita Monastery, a Gothic church, one of the Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bukovina, Romania, Europe

Cloister of the Church of Saint Francis, Piran, Slovenia, Europe

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Arcade murals depicting religious figures and scenes, Church of the Nativity, Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bulgaria, Europe

Monastery and church of Cuilapan, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Courtyard, dormitories and Church of the Nativity, Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Ganden Palace, Drepung Monastery, Lhasa, Tibet, China, Asia

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

St. Michael's Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Convento Santo Ecce Homo, previously a monastery now a historic site, near Villa de Leyva, Colombia, South America

Monastery and church of Cuilapan, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

St. Michael's Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Aerial of Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Fo Guang Mountain (Shan), Taiwan, Asia

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Neustift Convent courtyard, Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy, Europe

Monastery and church of Cuilapan, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Monk in wooden mask in traditional costume, dancing in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Sculpture, Courtyard of the two-storied cloister, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Monastery of the Hieronymites), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

The cloisters and courtyard of Alcobaca Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alcobaca, Estremadura, Portugal, Europe

A nun sweeps the grounds of the Stavropoleos Monastery Church (Biserica Manastirea Stavropoleos) early in the morning, Bucharest, Romania, Europe

The Inner Courtyard, Monastery of St. John the Theologian, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Patmos, Dodecanese, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

Tourists visit Konigliches Schloss in Schlossplatz, Berchtesgaden in Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Germany

Nativity church in courtyard of Rila monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rila Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Monk in wooden mask in traditional costume, dancing in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Procession in monastery courtyard with monk musicians blowing traditional horns, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Group of monks dancing in the monastery courtyard rehearsing for Hemis festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Konigliches Schloss in Schlossplatz, Berchtesgaden in Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Germany

Konigliches Schloss in Schlossplatz, Berchtesgaden in Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Germany

Pilgrims in monastery courtyard,. Sakya, Tibet, China, Asia

Courtyard in Palcho Monastery, Gyantse, Tibet, China, Asia

Rinpung Dzong Fortress Monastery courtyard, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Monks debate in main courtyard, Tashilhunpo monastery, Shigatse (Xigatse), Tibet, China, Asia

Group of monks dancing in the monastery courtyard rehearsing for Hemis festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Courtyard of the monastery of Likir, Ladakh, India, Asia

Procession in monastery courtyard with monk musicians wearing masks blowing traditional horns, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Group of monks in wooden masks and traditional costumes in procession in the monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Close up of a monk dancing in full traditional costume in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Monk beating traditional drum called gong, int he courtyard of chiwang monastery during mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal

The cloister garden and courtyard of Kloster Eberbach monastery, used in the filming of The Name of the Rose, Rhine region, Hessen, Germany, Europe

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

Europe, Portugal, Lisbon. April 19, 2022. The Jeronimos Monastery, burial site of Vasco da Gama, and an example of Portugese Gothic Maueline architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The courtyard of Soma monastery, restored by THF, where dances and ceremonies are held. The courtyard is repaved with stone from Chiling. It is surrounded by a charming refurbished arcade. Ladakh, India

Tibetan Interior: Brightly colored tea tables and carpets in the courtyard of Hemis monastery following a ceremony and feast. Paintings on slate line the courtyard walls. Ladakh, India

Tibetan interior: Tea tables and carpets arranged in the courtyard for a ceremony at Hemis Monastery. Ladakh, India

Tibetan interior: Tea tables and carpets arranged in the courtyard for a ceremony at Hemis Monastery. Ladakh, India

Shrine in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery of Saint Stephen, Meteora, Thessaly, Greece

Courtyard, in Wat Pho (Wat Po), Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand

Young monk on the roof looking at the dance of masks in the courtyard during the Hemis Gonpa Festival at convent Hemis, southeast of Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Families from villages close by having food in the courtyard, Hemis Festival at convent Hemis, southeast of Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Women drinking tea in the courtyard, Hemis Festival at convent Hemis, southeast of Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

outdoor bathroom in a courtyard of a new Kung Fu school, washing hair, face, cleaning teeth, near Shaolin, Song Shan, Henan province, China, Asia

Abbot playing chinese chess at the courtyard of Cui Yun Gong monastery, Hua Shan, Shaanxi province, China, Asia

Courtyard, prayer hall, Wannian monastery and temple, pilgrims hostel, China, Asia, World Heritage Site, UNESCO

practice for foreign students in side courtyard of the Shaolin Monastery, known for Shaolin boxing, Taoist Buddhist mountain, Song Shan, Henan province, China, Asia

Picturesque patio Mudéjar at La Rábida monastery, Province of Huelva, Andalusia, Spain, Europe

prayer ceremony, buddhist monks, court yard, during birthday of Wenshu, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China, Asia

Monastery of Moni Odigitria, courtyard

Monastery Certosa di Pavia (“Gratiarum Chartusiae”), Province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy, Europe

Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Community of Madrid, Spain

Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Community of Madrid, Spain

Inner courtyard of Maulbronn monastery, Cistercian monastery, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Timber-frame architecture in the courtyard of the Johanniskloster, St John's Monastery, Stralsund, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, Europe

Cistercian monastery Bebenhausen Tuebingen Baden Wuerttemberg Germany

Green courtyard seen through arched stone columns in the priory of St. Paul de Mausole in St. Remy de Provence, France, Europe

Courtyard, Kykkos Monastery, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, Europe

The empty courtyard of the Rumtek monastery, a tourist attraction and home of the Karmapa and Karma Kagyu order of Buddhism located in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, Asia

The inscribed pillar at the center of the Rumtek Monastery courtyard details the history of the monastery located in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, Asia

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Twisted tree trunk in inner courtyard walls with arches of 15th century monastery Muckross Abbey in the Killarney National Park, Kerry, Ireland, Europe

Royal Kykkos monastery, courtyard, Orthodox monastery, icons, mosaics, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, Greece, Europe