London Must-Visit: St. Paul's Cathedral

- The Golden Sanctuary of the Holy Lord 🎗️ Architectural Background: St Paul's Cathedral, also translated as St. Paul's Cathedral, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of London in the Church of England. It is located in the City of London and is a representative of Baroque architecture, famous for its spectacular dome. The existing building was constructed in the 17th century. Above the main entrance of the church, the pediment is carved with the picture of St. Paul's journey to Damascus, and a statue of St. Paul stands atop the wall, making the entire structure appear symmetrical and majestic. Inside the cathedral, there is a vaulted hall supported by square stone columns, adorned with rich and colorful paintings, stained glass windows, and large murals of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and the apostles hanging on the walls. The intricate wood carvings of the choir stalls, the sanctuary hall, and the spiral staircases in the deanery (a filming location for Harry Potter) reflect the high level of artistry and decoration of the time. The cathedral also houses the tombs and monuments of royalty, generals, and celebrities, such as two 11th-century Saxon kings, General Wellington, and architect Sir Christopher Wren. St. Paul's Cathedral is the second-largest dome church in the world, after St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. While the British royal family typically holds most significant weddings, baptisms, and funerals at Westminster Abbey, the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana was held at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981. 🎗️ Visiting Strategy: 🌅 Tickets can be purchased online for £22, and electronic tickets are usually checked on your phone upon entry. 🌅 The ground floor features a gift shop, crypt area, and restrooms, while the first floor houses the chapel and choir stalls (note that only the first floor has entrances and exits). The second floor offers views of the ceiling murals but no photography is allowed. Climbing to the top involves many spiral staircases (getting steeper as you go, really breaking a sweat). After passing through a platform with high walls, you climb one last black iron spiral staircase (the most challenging part) and are rewarded with a panoramic view of London! The London Eye, nestled among the interwoven architecture and rivers, is breathtakingly beautiful, and it's hard to imagine how stunning it must be at sunset on a summer evening from the top! #Churches #London #Architecture #ArchitecturalBeauty #StPaulsCathedral #LondonTravel #LondonTravelGuide #LondonTourism #UKTravel #London