St.Paul's Cathedral - Certainly One of London's Finest

St. Paul's Cathedral caters to the Anglican denomination, and is the mother church of the Diocese of London and the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.  It is one of the most recognizable landmarks in London, and sits on Ludgate Hill at the highest point in the city of London. The cathedral was designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren in the English baroque style, but this constructed only after the fire of 1666 destroyed the previous St. Paul's cathedral.  Actually, four other churches were built on this site, and each time the cathedral was expanded and extended. 

One of the more prominent features of St. Paul's Cathedral is the large dome - long been a notable sight of the London skyline.  Until 1967, the cathedral was the tallest building in the world, and to this day, its dome is still among the highest in the world. St. Paul's Cathedral is at the center for many significant national events, such as the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, George Mallory, and that of Margaret Thatcher, as well as services which marked the end of the First and Second World Wars. 

There is a large lantern at the top of the dome that weighs 850 tons.  Visitors can reach the top of the dome via three galleries: The Whispering Gallery, and Stone Gallery, and the Narrow Golden Gallery.  The latter encircles the lanter's base, and gives one a magnificent view of the city of London. Beneath the cathedral is the largest crypt in Europe, built under the entire building. 

This was designed to contain the massive piers which were designed to provide structural support to the building whose weight is spread out over eight piers.  The crypt is also the final resting place of some of Britain's notable personages such as the Duke of Wellington, Admiral Nelson, and even Christopher Wren himself, who designed and constructed the cathedral. Admittance to the cathedral is only free for services, and there is no sightseeing during this time. 

There is a charge for sightseers, for which The Interpretation Project has been formulated - a long term project dedicated with breathing life into St. Paul's for its visitors.  There is a film that tells the history and the daily life of the cathedral, and multimedia guides were launched in 2010.  These guides offer close up views of the interior artwork of the ceilings, galleries, and the dome, including mosaics, paintings, and photographies.  Paid-for-admission, which costs around £18.00, but are also offered at group and student rates, also includes entry to the Cathedral floor, the crypt, and the three galleries in the dome.

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