Don't Stand In The Doorway Trivia Quiz

The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the most ancient churches in Florence, Italy. It is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, Florence's patron saint, and is famous for its three sets of bronze doors, especially the east doors known as the "Gates of Paradise". Lorenzo Ghiberti and his workshop worked on the gilded bronze doors from 1425 AD to 1452 AD.

The doors are 17 feet tall (5.18 m) and feature ten panels depicting Old Testament scenes. The work also includes statuettes of prophets and 24 busts, including a self-portrait of Ghiberti. The Gates of Paradise marked a shift from Gothic to Renaissance style and influenced artists like Michelangelo who reportedly named them the "Gates of Paradise".

St. Peter's Basilica is a major Catholic church in Vatican City, Italy and is built on the traditional burial site of Saint Peter. It is considered one of the holiest sites for Roman Catholics. It also houses one of the four sealed doors in Rome's basilicas (the others being St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls). These doors are ceremonially opened by the Pope only during a Jubilee year, which is a celebration typically held every 25 years in Rome, marked by a focus on spiritual renewal.

The Holy Door at St. Peter's is the northernmost door on the basilica and is made of copper; it depicts scenes of sin and redemption, each panel illustrating biblical and historical moments related to mercy. The current one, as of 2025 AD, was commissioned for the 1950 Holy Year and was created by the sculptor Vico Consorti.

Babylon was an ancient city in Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Iraq. There were a series of gates leading into the city and the Ishtar Gate was the eighth in the sequence. The gate was built around around 575 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar II and it served as the main northern entrance. The gate was used for religious festivals, particularly the New Year festival dedicated to the god Marduk. It was made primarily of glazed bricks in a vibrant blue color, likely representing lapis lazuli. The bricks were molded and fired to create detailed reliefs.

Various animals are depicted on the gate. These include lions which honor the goddess Ishtar, bulls which honor the weather god Adad and dragons which are associated with the chief god, Mardu. The original Ishtar Gate was excavated by German archaeologist Robert Koldewey from 1899 AD to 1917 AD. The pieces were then shipped to Germany and painstakingly reconstructed where they are in a museum in Berlin.

The United States Capitol Building is located in Washington, DC. The large, circular room at the center is the Rotunda and the Columbus Doors are located at its east entrance. They were molded in Rome, Italy, between 1855 AD and 1858 AD and installed in 1871 AD. (The US Civil War caused the delay).

The doors, which were modeled after Lorenzo Ghiberti's "Gates of Paradise" in Florence, Italy, consist of two large sides, each with four panels, and a semi-circle above them. The scenes on the doors depict various points in the life and travels of Christopher Columbus. The "story" starts with the bottom left panel and continues up, across, and down until it reaches the scene of Columbus' death.

The Doge's Palace was the residence of the Doge (the elected leader of Venice) and also served as a center of government and as a prison. Today it is a museum. The ceremonial entrance to the palace is an ornate gateway called the Porta della Carta. It was built between 1438 AD and 1442 AD by the architects Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon and is a pointed arch surrounded by elaborate carvings.

At the top is a depiction of Justice holding a sword and scales while along the sides are representatives of various cardinal virtues such as Fortitude or Charity. The name "Porta della Carta" (Paper Gate) is believed to derive either from the public scribes who used to sit nearby or from the practice of displaying official decrees and government documents in the area around the doorway.

The Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Spain, was originally built as a grand mosque in the 8th century AD and later converted into a Catholic cathedral in the 13th century AD. It is one of the oldest structures still standing from the time Muslims ruled the Iberian area. The Puerta del Pardon is the main entrance to one of the courtyards and its architectural style shows the unique history of the building.

The existing doorway was completed in 1377 AD, likely over a preexisting gate from the original mosque. The gateway has a prominent horseshoe arch, intricate plasterwork, and decorative bronze plaques on its doors. The name "Door of Forgiveness" stems from an old tradition where pilgrims passing through could receive divine absolution for their sins. Historically, this area was also an important sacred space where Muslims performed ritual washings in the courtyard's fountains before entering the prayer hall.

10 Downing Street, often referred to simply as "Number 10," is the official residence and executive office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. It is located in Westminster, London. It has served as the official London residence of the Prime Minister since 1735 AD and also houses the Cabinet Room, where weekly Cabinet meetings are held, and numerous offices for political staff.

The door was originally designed to be a modest, unassuming door typical of a terraced house. However, it has became one of the world's most famous entrances, showcasing the British tradition of a Prime Minister living in a simple home rather than a grand palace. The door is no longer made of oak, but of steel, and continues to have a simple number "10" painted crookedly on the door.

Stow-on-the-Wold is a market town located in Gloucestershire, England, and is known for its picturesque Cotswold stone architecture. St. Edward's Church is a historic Anglican parish church located there. The church dates back to the 11th century AD and has a large square tower. However, one of its most famous features is its north porch door.

The door is framed by two ancient yew trees growing very close to the stonework, creating a natural, tunnel-like archway. This unique appearance is widely believed to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkien's description of the "Doors of Durin" (the west gate of Moria) in "The Lord of the Rings" book.

The Royal Palace, or Dar al-Makhzen, is the palace of the King of Morocco in the city of Fes, Morocco. Its original foundation dates back to 1276 AD. While it is still a working residence of the King of Morocco, the exterior is a major tourist attraction. One of the most popular areas is the set of seven monumental doors that line the square.

Each door features elaborate geometric and floral patterns. Polished brass is overlayed with gold on which intricate designs flourish. Surrounding the doors are traditional Moroccan ceramic tiles in vibrant shades of blue and green. The number seven is significant in Islam because it represents completeness, perfection, and divine order. Hence, the number of these magnificent doors.

All Saints' Church, commonly known as the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), is in the western end of Wittenberg, Germany. Historically, the church is primarily known as the starting point of the Reformation. On October 31, 1517 AD, Martin Luther is traditionally believed to have nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the main door of this church. These theses questioned the Church's authority.

The actual wooden door used by Martin Luther was destroyed in a fire during the Seven Years' War in 1760 AD. The current one is black bronze that was commissioned by King Frederick William IV. The full text of Luther's Ninety-five Theses, written in Latin, is cast in relief directly onto this bronze surface. The door itself continues to be a major pilgrimage site and tourist attraction.