Burghley House, Elizabethan stately home in Barnack, England
Burghley House is an Elizabethan country house near Barnack in England, built from pale honey-coloured limestone and rising three main floors with corner towers. The building surrounds a central courtyard and looks out over manicured lawns that slope down toward the parkland beyond.
William Cecil commissioned the estate from the mid-16th century as an expression of his political power and wealth. His descendants still live here today and have reshaped the interiors several times over the centuries.
The Heaven Rooms in the west wing display baroque ceiling paintings of mythological scenes created by Antonio Verrio during his twelve years working at the estate. These grand rooms also hold a collection of Italian Renaissance sculptures and Venetian mirrors from the 16th century.
Entry is through the visitor center, which provides access to both the state apartments and the garden areas. Allow several hours to explore the interiors and the wide grounds at a comfortable pace.
The sculpture garden beside the house displays rotating works by contemporary artists set against the historic backdrop. The old kitchens in the basement are also preserved and show cooking hearths and storage rooms from past centuries.
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