They warned me… ⛪️

The sign suggested that people who suffer from claustrophobia ✅ vertigo ✅ or “don’t think they are capable” ✅ that the visit is “not recommended”. By this stage I’d already handed over my €10 to the Catholic Church for entry to the tower and I wasn’t going to let some pesky fears get in the way. The glass elevator took me most of the way up the tower of one of the cathedral spires where I was deposited on an open air viewing platform. Did I mention that glass elevators scare me too?

With vertigo activated I then climbed the 102 stairs (those rickety steel style that are open so you can see straight through) up to the top of the spire. The last spiral staircase was tiny and to access it you had to step on a glass floor that looked directly down the elevator shaft. They weren’t kidding about the vertigo.

The view from the top was great through although I’d be lying if I wasn’t a lot happier 15mins later once the elevator came back to collect me and take me back to ground level. I wandered around the strictly no photos cathedral and sat down on a pew to take a sneaky pic. Suddenly mass started so I tried to leave the way I came only to find a big gate within the cathedral sealing me in. That’s one way to get more followers to your religion - trap you in! I exited via the back door (should you say that in a Catholic Church?) and re entered the other end of the cathedral for a good look around.

It’s frustrating that they don’t allow photos, the sign saying it’s because it’s a sacred place. Meanwhile on one of the alters there is a professional camera set up charging people for pictures in the cathedral. Dang the Catholic Church knows how to make a buck! It is however a beautiful cathedral that somehow feels smaller inside than the outside (reverse tardis?).

The second cathedral across then square (claims to be the only city with 2 cathedrals) also had no photos. It was impressive inside. Originally a Roman pagan church, then a mosque, then a Catholic Church, now a cathedral the site has been used for religion for quite a while. It has a tapestry museum attached, nice rugs but not my thing despite the audio guide telling me that seeing these rugs hanging is a sight that is “unforgettable”. Alas without pictures I think I’ve already forgotten!

My ticket gave me access to one more rosary church/museum but I was god-ed out by this stage so decided to find some lunch. I never look in churches at home but the architecture and history just draws me in when visiting Europe. Tapas - here I come!Read more