Cathedrals of Europe
Cathedrals of Europe
by Lesley Brown
by Lesley Brown
Being an enthusiast of great architecture as well as a history buff, I have developed a fascination, with European cathedrals. My wife has never quite shared my passion, but since she adores travelling and shopping, we have a perfect arrangement. Our special time of the year is Easter, for the religious significance of the day, and also because we were married on Easter. This year our journey took us to Barcelona, a city that is known throughout the world as a cultural city with a gorgeous architectural heritage. It is also known for its wonderful jewellery (a fact that didn’t escape my wife).
We found a marvellous hotel in the Gothic Quarter, Duc De La Victoria. The hotel had all of the old world charm that one might expect, plus it was only a five minute walk to the Cathedral of Barcelona. The walk is an event in itself. The streets are filled with dark Gothic buildings from the 14th century.
Circling the cathedral you can see ancient walls and some of the most significant buildings in the city. The first thing that you notice is the cloister in front of the cathedral with its famous inhabitants, the geese. These mysterious geese grandly stroll through the area without a care in the world. They are accustomed to being treated extremely well by visitors and locals.
Stepping into the Cathedral of Barcelona you are struck by its vast spaciousness, and are immediately given a sense of humility. There are 29 extravagant chapels and a brilliant 14th century cloister. There is also the museum which houses a collection of 15th century religious paintings.
During an Easter trip to Paris last year, we visited one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, the Cathedral of Notre Dame. We stayed at the Franklin Roosevelt Hotel, located at the heart of the business and cultural centre of Paris, between Montaigne and George V Avenues and a stone's throw from the Champs-Elysees. This was a bit of an indulgence, but the casino inside the hotel was all of the justification that I needed.
The Notre Dame cathedral was everything that I expected and more. The entrance to the cathedral was highlighted by a magnificent sculpture of 'Adam and Eve and the Serpent'. The bell 'Emmanuel', which is located in the South Tower, weighs 13 metric tons (over 28,000 pounds) and the sculpture of the Virgin Mary, which is known as the Virgin of Paris, was just a few of the sights that make Notre Dame one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world.
The year before our Paris visit, we had chosen the British capital for our Easter break. London is such an exciting city that we were not surprised to find it teeming with tourists, even though the chill of winter could still be felt. We stayed at the Bayswater Inn. While this hotel did not have a casino, it was nestled in a quiet residential area that was completely charming. With exceptional service and a pleasant restaurant, it was a perfect choice.
The day after our arrival in London, we went to see St. Paul's Cathedral. St Paul’s, with its world-famous dome, is an impressive feature of the London skyline. To say that this iconic building is a masterpiece is an understatement. The interior is filled with elaborate stone carvings and gleaming mosaics. But it was the high altar made of marble and carved with gilded oak and the organ that has over 7,000 pipes and five keyboards, that made this domed tour de force a must-see.
The most memorable trip by far, was our very first Easter outing three years ago. We went to the 'Eternal City' of Rome. We had initially set out to enjoy all the wonders that Rome had to offer - the Sistine Chapel was to be the highlight for me. Little did we know at the time that this chapel would incite such emotion and begin a life-long tradition.
We stayed at the Nova Domus Hotel. We chose this hotel because it was very near the main attractions in Rome and only a 5 minute walk to the Vatican. We were impressed by the elegant draperies and the silk bedding was quite a treat. The restaurant cuisine was sumptuously decadent. The view from our window was also splendid as we were able to see the beauty of the streets of Rome while watching the sun set.
The sensation that took hold of me when we stepped into the Sistine Chapel is very hard to articulate. Since I have visited quite a few cathedrals and have been able to appreciate the intricate designs and the awe-inspiring paintings, I considered myself to be somewhat of an aficionado (not quite), but nothing that I had seen prepared me for this splendour.
As I stepped into the interior, the sheer size of this magnificent structure sent my head whirling. I felt as though I had stepped back into history and was part of something very unique and miraculous. I knew that I was witnessing something that transcends ordinary man.
The entrance wall featured frescoes of the two final episodes of the cycles of Moses and Christ: the Resurrection of Christ and the 'Discussion over the body of Moses'. This enormous fresco covers the entire end wall of the chapel. The first figures of the popes and the image of the Virgin of Assumption (by Perugino), represented the Ancestors of Christ frescoed earlier by Michelangelo himself.
As the works of Michelangelo have been shown in every form of media, seeing the actual artistic quality and mesmerizing beauty of his famous ceiling had a profound effect on both my wife and I. We were left utterly speechless viewing the frescoes depicting the ancestors of Christ. My personal favourite, and arguably the most famous, was an apex containing a scene from the Genesis: The Creation of Adam.
In order to appreciate the beauty and the magnitude of artistry, you would have to see it for yourself. It is a vision that will forever keep a place in my heart. Our continued love for these colossal pieces of history has us already planning for next Easter! We will be visiting St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague where we will be staying at the Savoy Hotel. Our next destination will be St. Stephens Basilica in Budapest where we have reservations at the elegant Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal.
Europe has such a rich history and has given us some of the most remarkable artists who have created absolute timeless masterpieces. And although there are scores of worthy attractions, we will continue to visit our beloved cathedrals.
To read abut other European cities, please visit our Tangent archive.
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