EUROPE FOR FREE : CITY: SECTION :
churches
St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Perfect
little 1726 chruchlet anchoring the northeast corner of Trafalgar Square
with its grandly small spire. This was, in fact, a field, way back in
the 13th century when the first church was built on the site. But it was
this 18th century version that became part of the blueprint for the American
colonial style—which may explain why the structure might look vaguely
familiar to folks from the sorts of old towns in New England that still
retain their church spires. St. Martin hosts a multitude of free music
concerts at miday and in evening (just sit in a pew and listen), and there's
a spiffy cheap cafe in the crypt underneath, where the little metal tables
balance atop a worn tombstone paving. Brass rubbing, too (though that's
costly).
Westminster
Cathedral
Not
world-renowned Westminster Abbey—where all the famous dead
blokes are buried (and you have to pay to pay your respects)—but
rather London's Catholic cathrdeal. It's a typically flamboyant and inventive
Victorian era (1895-1903) imitation of Italian Romanesque architecture,
from the red striped belltower to the rich marbles of the interior. Excellent
summertime organ concerts every second Tuesday.
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