Page 60 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

58  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

o St Paul’s Cathedral

The Great Fire of London in 1666 left the medieval cathedral of St Paul’s in ruins.
Christopher Wren was commissioned to rebuild it, but his design for a cathedral
on a Greek Cross plan (where all four arms are equal in length) met with considerable
resistance. The authorities insisted on a conventional Latin Cross, with a long nave and
short transepts, which was believed to focus the congregation’s attention on the altar.
Despite the compromises, Wren created a magnificent Baroque cathedral, which was built
between 1675 and 1710 and has since formed the setting for many state ceremonies.

. West Front and Towers
Inspired by the work of Italian
architect Francesco Borromini,
the towers were not on Wren’s
original plan. He added them in
1707, when he was 75 years old.
Both were designed to have clocks.

KEY
1 The west portico consists of
two storeys of coupled Corinthian
columns, topped by a pediment
carved with reliefs showing the
Conversion of St Paul.
2 The balustrade, designed by
John James, was added in 1718
against Wren’s wishes.
3 The lantern is made out of stone
and weighs a massive 700 tonnes. The Nave
4 The Golden Gallery has An imposing
splendid views over London. succession of massive
arches and saucer
5 The oculus is an opening through
which the cathedral floor can be seen. domes open out into
the vast space below
6 Stone Gallery the main dome.
7 The high altar canopy was
constructed in the 1950s, after the
cathedral was bombed in World War II,
and is based on designs by Wren.
8 An entrance leads down to
the crypt, which lies underneath the Main entrance
cathedral and contains the tombs approached from
and memorials of popular heroes.
Ludgate Hill
9 The south portico was inspired
by the beautiful porch of Santa
Maria della Pace in Rome.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p174 and pp184–5

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