The Sunol Water Temple is a beautiful architectural monument well worth a visit. It was designed in 1910 by famed San Francisco architect Willis Polk, who modeled it after the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli and considered it to be his masterpiece. The Temple is situated at the end of a long, narrow road and is surrounded by picturesque oak trees and meadows with views of the nearby hills.
First you pass through the temple entry gates and then drive down
the roadway - parking is next to the temple...
Twelve concrete Corinthian columns support the conical wood and tile roof...
The inscription around the ring of the roof reads,
"I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry lands springs of water.
The streams whereof shall make glad the city. S.V.W.C. MCMX."
Dolphins resting on the crown of the roof...
Looking up toward the roof and paintings...
A close up of one of the ornate columns...
The decorative wood paintings...
The restored ceiling of the temple - the empty sections were never completed...
A look through the columns...
That's California - The Dry Lands...
A beautiful monument so close to home...
If you decide to visit this jewel, check out my post about Niles Canyon and Sunol - both are interesting and fun places to visit and are nearby the temple.
1 comment:
wonderful post , great and beautiful blog.
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