The
Basilica
Saint Stephen's
Basilica is the largest Roman Catholic church
in Budapest, it has the second highest ecclesiastical status in
Hungary.
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The
building was planned and built in 1851 by
József Hild in classical style and continued by
Miklós Ybl, who added a neo-renaissance taste to the
original concepts. The inner layout and the completion of the building
in 1905 is the work of József
Krausz. Famous
Hungarian painters and sculptors decorated the inner side,
using 50 different types of marble.
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The
statue of the basilica's patron saint by Alajos Stróbl can
be seen on the high altar. It is quite unique to have the
statue of a human on the altar, but on special Papal permission the
statue of our first king, who converted the Hungarians to Christianity
is displayed here.
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An
elevator takes up the visitors in the
left
tower,
from where a magnificent panorama of the city can be enjoyed. Not only
the streets and squares of downtown Pest, but also the Castle hill,
the Citadel
and the other Buda hills are visible. In the
right tower the largest bell of the country - weighs 9 tons - can be
found. |
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The
Chapel of
the Holy Right is behind the
sanctuary,
where the right hand of the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen is held
in a delicatly ornated reliquary.
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The
Basilica has been recently renovated, its huge walls have been cleaned
and the surroundings have been nicely
arranged too. Hotel
Central Basilica is a recently
opened nice hotel in front of the
Basilica.
The square in
front of the church became a beautiful
pedestrian
area with some cafés and benches to sit on. |
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