If there are few finances for visiting museums, exhibitions and other popular London attractions, it is worth paying attention to budget, but no less important and interesting places, which are also enough in the capital of England. One of them is St. Paul’s Cathedral.
You can even get to the evening service for free, there is a schedule in front of the entrance. The cathedral is open for viewing from 8:30 to 16:30, the entrance fee is up to 18 pounds. Photos and videos are prohibited in the cathedral.
The history of the construction of the famous cathedral
The cathedral, which can be seen today, is the fifth in a row, erected on this site for many centuries. So, the very first mention of it dates back to 604, when a wooden temple stood on this site, which burned down in 675. After that, first one stone church was erected, which was destroyed by the Vikings in 961, and then another, which suffered from a fire in London in 1087.
The construction was supervised by architect Christopher Wren. Before the construction process began, the architect changed the project three times. The first option was not grand enough for the authorities, the second was too radical (by the way, the second option can be seen in the form of a layout when visiting the cathedral).
The final third version was approved in 1675 and provided for a church with a dome, which had two belfry towers. But this option has undergone some changes thanks to the intervention of Charles II. The king ordered to make a large dome, which distinguishes this excellent temple today. The fact, recognized by the public, says that the dome of this temple exactly repeats the dome on the Church of St. Paul in Rome. The design of the dome is quite complex in execution, which gave it a special integrity and stability even despite the bombing during the Second World War.
The first services were held in December 1697, but the church officially opened only after 11 years. Despite the fact that there are many high-rise buildings in modern London, St. Paul’s Cathedral is absolutely not lost on their background. The facade of the temple is especially beautiful at night, being flooded in the color of searchlights.
Undoubtedly, St. Paul’s Cathedral reflects almost the entire history of Great Britain. Now we see the greatest temple, demonstrating the great talent and perseverance of Christopher Wren. Almost two hundred British citizens left their ashes here. Among them are the famous architect of the temple, and the Duke of Wellington, and Admiral Nelson, and Henry Moore, as well as other famous personalities of different eras.
In total, 17 bells are installed in the Cathedral, and its height is 111 meters. There are three galleries under the dome of the temple:
- The whisperer. It got this name because of its acoustic features: if you say something in a whisper at one end of the gallery, then everything will be clearly heard at the other end. It is here that frescoes are depicted showing the life of a famous Saint. The height is 30 m .
- Stone. It is a great place to admire London, but below the golden one – the height is 54 m.
- Golden. The highest gallery is 85 m from the ground. In order to get there, you need to put a lot of effort, in return you can get a fantastic view of the capital.