All the picturesBudapest: statue of St Stephen Sopron: panorama and Church of St Michael Fertod: a detail of the palace |
PanoramaNear the centre of the image you can see the Parliament, and behind it, on the background, Margaret Island. On the right the Basilica of St Stephen, with its characteristic dome and the two bell towers. It is the biggest Catholic church of Budapest, a Neoclassic building completed in 1906 (it would have been completed well before, if only the dome hadn't fallen down in 1868). Inside you can admire the mummified right hand of St Stephen. When I saw it, it was almost overwhelmed by the flashes of a group of enthusiastic Japanese tourists. The picture, if I remember correctly, has been taken from the slopes of the hill on whose top there is the Citadella, a fortress now hosting a hotel, a casino and other tourist attractions. Climbing it was a tremendous effort, I reached the top bathed in sweat and smelling like never before, but the eyesight was well worth all the energies I spent. Last updated: Tuesday August 15th, 2000 |