Antwerp
Looking up into the crossing tower.
Our Lady’s Cathedral of Antwerp. The five hundred year old, 123 meter north tower.
The vast spaces enclosed by the larger churches can be breathtaking. The cathedral's nave alone is 53.5 metres (176 feet) wide and 28 metres (92 feet) high. Its long history has resulted in these spaces being decorated in styles ranging from gothic to baroque and rococo and the occasional artwork from other churches which haven't survived the vicissitudes of history.
We may go into a church to see a specific object (in this case, the paintings by Rubens) but we know that we are going to see, and learn, much more. We may be frustrated by the shortness of the time available to us but we will leave exhilarated nonetheless. We hope the combined effect of these few pages will convey some of reasons for the irresistable attraction these great buildings hold for us.
Our next stop will be St. Paul's. Well, we might stop for a coffee first ...coffee and the small Belgian chocolate that is usually served with the coffee here.
The Sacrament chapel with the rococo style Tabernacle (in the form of the Ark of the Covenant).
Descent from the Cross, Peter Paul Rubens.
Assumption of the Virgin. Peter Paul Rubens.
Early vault decoration.