Budapest - Arts & Entertainment - Religious & Spiritual
An absolute must visit if you are in Budapest. Like a lot of Hungary it has undergone its fair share of trials and tribulations over the years with the original dome collapsing and being rebuilt and then being bombed during WWII leading to a major reconstruction project starting as late as the 1980s.
The church celebrates St Stephen, who is the man attributed as originally uniting Hungary. As Bell mentions as you tour around the imposing inside of the building you will happen open "the fist of St Stephen" or possibly his fist...or more likely someone else's mummified hand but never mind. A bit like some 1800s fairground, you can put a small amount of change in and lo and behold the golden box that holds the fist lights up so you can get a good look...just shame there's no bizarre music to go with it.
Anyway - there are some great views to be had up from the top of the church, the building itself looks great in its position in front of a large square and if you go on the 20th August, you'll run into St Stephen's hand being given a triumphant trip round the square and surrounding streets as Hungarians mark his day.
It's also a beautiful church to go round inside and well worth a look for some of the fabulous architecture and design inside.
Check out my review of Saint Stephen’s Basilica - I am scottishwolf - on Qype
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