Esztergom Basilica, Catholic basilica and cathedral on Castle Hill in Esztergom, Hungary.
The Esztergom Basilica is a Catholic cathedral and minor basilica on Castle Hill in Esztergom, serving as the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary. The building follows a neoclassical design with a large domed interior, a wide colonnade across the front, and a main nave flanked by side chapels.
The first cathedral at this site was founded in 1001 by King Stephen I of Hungary and later suffered heavy damage during the Ottoman occupation. The current neoclassical building began in 1822 under architect János Packh and took until 1869 to be consecrated.
The Cathedral Treasury displays a collection of liturgical objects, including the Suki chalice used during Pope John Paul II's visit in 1991.
The church itself is usually open without charge, while the treasury, crypt, and dome panorama represent separate areas with their own entry points. The steep dome staircase requires a fair level of fitness, but the view across the Danube rewards the climb.
The enormous altarpiece behind the main altar is considered the world's largest painting created on a single canvas and depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Hungarian painter Michelangelo Grigoletti worked for several years on this piece, which fills the entire apse wall.
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