Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral, located in Canterbury, Kent, England, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian churches in England.
It is also the cathedral of the Archbishop of Canterbury and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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The first Christian structure dated from the end of the 6th century, followed by additions, reconstructions, damage of Danish raids. The present style dates from the late 14th century, when the 3-nave aisle was rebuilt in the English Perpendicular Gothic style, conveying the impression of both height and massiveness. The Norman and Early English style of the eastern part of the cathedral were however preserved.
The Canterbury cathedral impresses through the massiveness of the buttresses and the 3 square towers, 2 above the entrance and one above the crossing place of aisle and transept. However, this massive structure is a canvas for Gothic tracery and graceful pinnacles. The 75 m high tower above the transept, called "Bell Harry", shines out in Tudor Gothic style. The design renounces the French and Italian rose windows in favour of monumental round arch windows on the lateral clerestory and above the entrance, practically 12th century curtain walls of stained glass with frames of stone, with depictions of the Old and New Testament.
The monumental interior is lit through these singular oversize windows, creating the austere and surreal atmosphere of a stone forest along with the gigantic, organically rounded bundle pilasters which support a vegetal-looking fan vault ceiling.
Beneath the church choir, there is a large and elaborately decorated Norman crypt from the early 12th century, the largest of its kind in England.
The Canterbury cathedral site also encloses Saint Martin's church, one of England's oldest parish churches, and Saint Augustine's Abbey, a Benedictine abbey with a 14th century crenellated Gothic Revival Gate flanked by two octagonal gate towers. Both the church and the abbey are part of UNESCO World Heritage. The water tower is a jewel of Romanesque architecture.
The cathedral encloses the Gothic and Renaissance inspired trinity chapel, the Saint Andrew chapel, Saint Anselm chapel, Mary chapel and Saint Michale's chapel and impressive crypt paintings such as the portraits of Lady Margaret Holland, of Henry the IV and paintings of bishops and cardinals.