CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL

Canterbury Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Church and is the undisputed emblem of the city and a spiritual centre for many believers around the world. It is one of the unmistakable landmarks of southern England, which will delight history lovers. In the rest of the country, only a few other religious buildings can boast of such renown, such as the cathedrals of York, Westminster or St Paul's. The church dedicated to St Augustine, which stood here before, was destroyed in a fire in 1067 and the present colossus was erected between 1070 and 1503. Impressive, imposing, fascinating, there is no shortage of adjectives to describe its historical interest, which is based on a mixture of several architectural styles, including an excellent example of perpendicular Gothic. The Romanesque crypt is the only remaining vestige of the 11th century and remains one of the highlights of the visit. It was on the steps leading up to it that the famous Archbishop Thomas Beckett was assassinated by the knights of Henry II in 1170. Canterbury Cathedral also contains the tombs of Edward, the Black Prince, hero of the Hundred Years' War, as well as Henry IV and Joan of Navarre, topped by their recumbent figures. Don't miss the frescoes in the Saint Gabriel Chapel (12th century), the stained glass windows in the Trinity Chapel depicting the life of Saint Thomas Beckett (13th century), the clock in the transept, the mosaic and the curved escutcheons in the floor behind the altar, the cloister and the chapter house.