The interiors are no less impressive, Gothic on the inside, just as on the outside. The cathedral houses relics of St Erik. It also has a number of notable tombs, as well as a tiny museum filled with ecclesiastical treasures.

History

The Uppsala Cathedral was begun construction in 1287. The previously smaller cathedral was replaced by the cathedral. The cathedral was designed to impress, and also upstage the colossal Nidaros Cathedral in Norway. The cathedral was built in almost a century. The Uppsala Cathedral was devoted to the St Olaf, the patron saint of Norway, St Erik, patron saint of Sweden, and St Lawrence (grid iron).

The consecration of the cathedral was completed in 1435, with a part of the construction completed later. A huge fire damaged the cathedral severely in 1702, the twin spires are late 19 t h century additions.

The ambulatory here, French Gothic in design, is the highlight of the interior architecture. There are small chapels bordering the cathedral, along with a golden glow.

Uppsala cathedral houses numerous tombs of notables. This includes Laurentius Petri, the first Lutheran Archbishop of Sweden, Swedenberg, philosopher – theologian, Lainnaeus, the famous botanist, Gustav Vasa, the Rebel King of the Reformation, and his heir Johan III. Dag Hammarskiöld, who was a former Secretary General of the UN, was a small memorial.

History

There is an inscription on the front of the cathedral that is written as “The Most Holy Lateran church, Mother and Mistress of all churches of the city and the World”. Being the Roman Cathedral it is the place where Emperor Constantine had established the Episcopal chair after 312 AD. San Giovanni in Laterno was firstly mentioned in historical sources in 313 when a number of bishops were held in Domum Faustae in Laterano. It was named after Fausta, the second spouse of Constantine who had converted religiously. The Popes used to reside in the Lateran palace till Clement V had shifted the papal seat to Avignon. Later when the Pope had returned to Rome in 1377 the papal residence was again shifted to the Vatican palace.

The Laterni family owned the property but it was taken by the Government when they fell from grace. Constantine had given this property to the church where the church was being built. It was known in the beginning as Basilica Salvatoris also known as Basilica of the Savior. During the early stage, it was also called the Basilica Aurea, “The Golden Basilica” due to its affluent décor.

It was 50-56-metres broad and 90-metres long and had five church centers. The outer part was uncomplicated but the inner part was richly adorned.The Cathedral was robbed and destroyed by the Vandals during the 5th century and was rebuilt by Pope St Gregory The Great in 590AD.

It was first rebuilt greatly by Pope Saint Sergius 1 and was rebuilt once more in hundred years by Pope Hadrian I

Piazza di San Giovanni laterano

Known as the back door of the church many people find the entrance to the church through this back door. You will get a different feel of the church when you enter through the front door.

The façade is built with two bell towers built in the Romanesque fashion. The design has been modified by Valadier.

The surrounding area

There is a junction in front of the church where there is a traffic leading to the walled cities of Port San Giovanni and the Porta Asinaria.The Porta Asinaria is the gate that Totila The Goth entered Rome in 547 AD.

The Fountains Abbey was founded in the year eleven hundred and thirty two.  This was after following a dispute and a huge riot that took place at the saint Mary’s abbey in New York. Also there are about thirteen monks who were then exiled and then they ere unsuccessful at attempting to come back to the rule of saint benedict.  They were provided with a site in the valley of the river skell.   There is an enclosed valley which has materials for the creation of a monastery, and this provides these people with all the resources they require to do whatever they need to do.  Protection from the weather, stone and timber for building and a running supply of water are al that was provided.

The Fountains Abbey operated for about four hundred years until fifteen hundred and thirty nine.  This is probably when the dissolutions of the monasteries was ordered by Henry the eighth. The building is about five hundred acres, later on this was sold to the crown. The construction of the abbey began in the year eleven hundred and thirty two.  The rocks were quarried locally. The original monastery buildings receive super additions and alternations I he later period of the same order.  This would cause a lot of devastation from the Cistercian type. There is a cloister which lies to the south and there is a three aisled chapter house and something that looks like a calefactory opening which opens up from the west side of the structure. The church also stands a short distance away from which seems to be the northern part of the structures skell.

Background . . .

It was when Cortes, along with his team of missionaries from Spain were converting Aztec people to Christianity in the 16 t h century that the church was built. The Aztec temples and shrines were torn down, and much of the stone and other materials from the temples were used in building churches on the site. Almost all the stone from the destroyed Templo Mayor was used for the original church building here.

This Spanish church building was destroyed in sixteen twenty eight, because the present Catedral Metropolitana was being built. Construction for the cathedral that stands towering at present was started in fifteen sixty seven and was completed in the year seventeen eighty eight. The Cathedral has a number of influences in its architecture, a medley of Mexican churrigueresque style of architecture as well as baroque and neo classic styles.

A magnificent structure, the Catedral Metropolitana is actually an endangered building. The lake soil that the cathedral and the Sagrario (chapel) that sits on is extremely soft, and over the hundreds of years, the cathedral has sunk softly down the soil. The immense weight of the building of upto a hundred and twenty thousand tons is responsible for this, and the entire façade is noticeably stilted. However, the Mexico city authorities have rebuilt the castle extensively and has made the castle come off the list of World’s most endangered buildings.

While you visit the Catedral Metroploitana, make sure you do not miss the innumerable paintings, the catacombs and the ornate details. You can also visit a sopund and light show here.

General information -

• Names - Catedral Metropolitana, Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City Cathedral
• Kind of site - Roman Catholic cathedral
• Dates - Built 1567 – 1788
• Address - Plaza de la Constitución s/n, Colonia Centro, Mexico City 06010, Mexico
• Location - The Zócalo (grand plaza), on Cinco de Mayo, Centro Histórico
• Hours – Daily 7 a m – 7 p m
• Metro - Zócalo
• Cost for entry – Free

The site for the Gloucester Cathedral was Christian since more than one thousand three hundred years. There was a Minster here that was established in c six hundred and seventy nine by Osric, Prince of Mercia. The church of now, however, was built by Serlo, who was the first Norman abbot. Abbot Serlo was chaplain to William the conqueror. The corner stone for the abbey was laid in one thousand eighty nine, the dedication of the eastern end took place in one thousand one hundred and the whole of the building was completed by one thousand one hundred and thirty.

The Abbey was an affluent and crucial church for a very long time, all through the medieval era. There were many royal ceremonies and functions held here. It was in one thousand two hundred sixteen that Henry I I I was crowned here as a boy of nine. The funeral of Edward I I was also held here, and there is his tomb here.

The abbey was closed down in fifteen forty and was converted into the Cathedral church for the Diocese of Gloucester fifteen forty one.

Gloucester Cathedral has daily worshippers coming here everyday now. It is also known for its rich tradition in music. Although established over one thousand three hundred years ago, you can actually see the architectural development over the years. There are a number of features which you will enjoy, such as the stained medieval glass, the crypt, the fan faultered cloisters and others. The Cathedral also featured in the movie series Harry Potter, where a number of scenes from the movies were shot in the elegant cloisters. The memorials, the fine windows, the tombs of Edward I I and the Duke of Normandy and the Chapter House are other must sees.

Opening Hours

Opening 1 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011

Day      Opening Times

Mon      07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Tues     07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Wed     07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Thurs    07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Fri        07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Sat       07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Sun      07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Bank Holidays  07 : 30 – 18 : 00

Shop hours (may be closed if there is a special service on):-

Winter - Mon – Fri 10 . 00 – 4 . 30

Summer - Mon – Fri 10 . 00 – 5 . 00

Sat 10.00 – 4 . 00 Sun 11 . 45 – 2 . 45

The cathedral is famous for its western front, which is adorned with wonderful sculptures of kings and saints. The interior of the Cathedral has an abundance of ‘scissor’ arches. You may either like them or dislike them. They are unique to the cathedral and cannot be seen elsewhere.

Construction work on the Wells Cathedral began in the year 1180, under the supervision of Bishop Reginald. However, the majority of the work was carried out under the guidance and watchful eye of Bishop Jocelyn, who was a local of the area with mighty ambitions for the town.

The nave of the cathedral was built under his guidance. The monument’s western front was completed in the 13th century. Bishop Jocelyn was quite a busy man. He also was assigned the task of overseeing the construction activity of Bishop’s Palace and building of a residence in Wookey.

Wells cathedral was the first cathedral in England to use the early-English Gothic architecture. The structure has an abundance of pointed arches. The cathedrals at Lincoln and Salisbury would follow after 10 and 30 years, respectively. Glastonbury Abbey, which lies in close proximity to the cathedral, was built following the Norman style of architecture.

Bishop Jocelyn was alive when the church was created in the year 1239. However, he died before the structure gained cathedral status. The year 1306 saw completion of the Chapter House.

When the cathedral was completely built, it seemed very small for the opulence and majesty of the liturgy. More room had to be found to accommodate mammoth ritual processions.

Therefore, the 14th century witnesses a surge in construction activity. Bishop Drokensford began proceedings by erecting the central tower. Construction began on the Lady Chapel, which had eight sides. Thomas of Whitney was the brain behind its construction.

The tall tower added significant weight to the cathedral’s center. Ingenuity solved the problem. There was an addition of three, scissor arches in 1338 in order to support the weight. An astronomical clock was another interior masterpiece, included in the year 1390. The west front of the cathedral stands at an impressive height of 100 feet.

This gigantic architecture was an important building in ancient times. It was the main commercial center where the traders used to sell and buy various commodities of daily use. Before the present cathedral, there were five more cathedrals but some of them got damaged in fire, the others were destroyed in wars. The construction of the present structure was completed in a very short span of time and it maintained the consistency of the plan that was designed for it. According to the plan, the castle has an ambulatory, three aisles, a transept and radiating chapels.

There are three facades in Chartres Cathedral, with one nave and two transepts in west and north-south directions respectively. Flying buttresses are used to support the nave. The transepts have two large windows with structured portals. The north portal has depictions of Christ as the savior of humanity. Statuettes of Isaiah, Jeremiah, St. Peter, and Simeon have been erected to the right of the bay. The south portal is built on the lines of New Testament. Royal Portal has a number of marvelous and expressive statuettes of kings and queens. There is also a depiction of Last Judgment in central west portal.

Another prominent feature of the Chartres Cathedral is the use of stained windows which are intact till today. There are more than 170 such windows which make interior of the cathedral rich and colorful. The West Rose windows have scenes of Resurrection and Last Judgment. The North Rose has illustrations of Virgin Mary with child and angels. Glorification of Christ is the main depiction in South Rose.

The Cathedral has sacred importance for the Christian pilgrims. The religious significance of Chartres Cathedral is evident from the fact that Chartres was a pilgrimage place even before the Cathedral was constructed. According to a myth, a tunic of Virgin Mary called Sancta Camisa was gifted to the cathedral by Charlemagne. Later on the tunic was thought to be brought by Charles the Bald. Great Fairs used to take place in Chartres Cathedral which attracted a number of pilgrims from all over the world.

The stained glasses too had religious significance .These windows were supposed to ward of the evil spirits and to make uneducated people aware of the sacredness of the place.

If one wants to have a tour to the Cathedral, he can travel by trains running between Paris and Chartres. The commutation time is more than 50 minutes. A walking map is available at the entrance. A museum is located behind the building that has illustrations related to Cathedral. One must opt for a day tour.

The construction of the Notre Dame Cathedral was spanned across a lot of the Gothic period. This place had stained glass sculptures and this is what is part of what shows the heavy influence of naturalism and other forms of Romanesque architecture.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was amongst the first buildings to use something as innovative as the flying buttress.  The building was not just designed to include the buttress all around the area of the choice and the nave , but it was also done all around. The construction of this amazing structure has begun and the walls were quite thin because of the popular gothic style, these walls grew even higher and because of this , there were many fractures that started to show because of these. The pattern continued in the later additions.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was subject to some desecration during the French revolution in the year seventeen hundred and ninety. This was when a lot of the imagery in this place was damaged and completely destroyed.

A huge restoration project was started in the nineteenth century, and the project was later completed.  This restoration project almost returned the entire cathedral to its original state. A lot of effort, time and financial resources were directed to making the Notre Dame Cathedral back to its former state.

Origins

The first Archbishop of Canterbury was St Augustine. He appeared along Kent’s coast in the form of a missionary to England in the year 597 AD. He arrived from Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory the Great. It is believed that Gregory was influenced by the sheer beauty of Angle slaves that he saw in a city market. The slaves were for sale. He quickly dispatched Augustine and other monks for their Christian conversion.

Augustine was allocated a cathedral at Canterbury: St Martin’s. This church is standing till today. Local king Ethelbert had done the allocation. Queen Bertha, who was a French Princess, was a Christian by birth. The building served as a place of worship while the Romans occupied Britain. Canterbury Cathedral is the oldest, extant cathedral present in England.

Augustine was made a bishop in France. He was consecrated an archbishop by the Pope. He set up his seat within the city walls of Rome. The English word ‘cathedral’ is derived from the Latin ‘cathedra’, which means ‘seat’. Augustine built the first cathedral in Canterbury, becoming its Archbishop. Since then, a strong community exists around Canterbury Cathedral. This community offers prayer to God on a daily basis. Canterbury Cathedral is the oldest institution in the English-speaking world. The current Archbishop, the revered Dr Rowan Williams, lies at number 104 in the succession line from St Augustine.

The community at the Canterbury Cathedral was part of the Archbishop’s household till the 10^th century. Canterbury Cathedral became an official community of Benedictine monks. The community continued till the monastery saw its dissolution in the year 1540 by King Henry VIII.

The original building of Augustine is situated beneath the nave’s floor. It was rebuilt to a large extent by the Saxons. Canterbury Cathedral was subsequently enlarged. Because of the fire, the Normans rebuilt the Cathedral completely. Over the course of the last nine hundred years, there have been numerous additions to Canterbury Cathedral. Some quire parts and stained-glass windows trace their origins to the 12^th century.

In the year 1077, Archbishop Lanfranc rebuilt Canterbury Cathedral in the style of a Norman church. It was completely perfect and pristine. A staircase and sections of the North Wall are extant from the original structure. They are located at the Northwest transept, which is also known as Martyrdom.

Durham Cathedral has a wonderful mix of heritage and history. The structure is a test of human skill and innovation. The mere size and magnificence prove the might of the Norman overlords. They tried to establish their power over the conquered land. Durham Cathedral primarily served as a religious building. It served as a shrine for the humble saint and a pilgrim destination. It was also a place of community worship and learning. The structure was built to celebrate God’s glory.

Durham Cathedral is known as ‘the great architectural experience of Europe’. It is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. Construction of the cathedral began in 1093 and was completed in 40 years. Durham Cathedral retains its original Norman craftsmanship. It preserves the unity and integrity of the original design.

The cathedral was primarily meant to be a place of worship. It was the home of Saint Cuthbert. Pilgrims thronged Durham in large numbers to honor Saint Cuthbert. Durham cathedral was also home to a Benedictine monastic community. Durham Cathedral organizes a yearly Benedictine Weekend, when visitors get an insight into the historical facts of St Benedict’s life.

Durham Cathedral served as an important hub for the nation’s politics and military might. It reinstated the influence of the prince-bishops over the northern border of England.

The cathedral is constructed on a peninsula. The cathedral’s northern front faces the Palace green. From this spot you can witness the entire stretch of the cathedral from west to east. The nave, transepts, and quire are wonderful examples of Norman architecture. Galilee Chapel is built in the style of the Normans. It lies on the west end of the cathedral. The cathedral’s eastern side is famous for the Chapel of the Nine altars, built in Gothic style. The western towers can be traced back to the 12^th century. The central tower is a recent addition. The cloister lies at the southern end of the cathedral. The College is another name given to Cathedral Close. It is a secluded spot on the Cathedral’s southern side. It has served as home of the Cathedral Clergy and Chorister school, which is a school for Cathedral choir boys.