St. Stephen's Basilica, Minor basilica and co-cathedral in District V, Budapest, Hungary.
St. Stephen's Basilica is a Neoclassical church in Budapest's fifth district that rises 96 meters high. The dome sits above the main nave, while marble cladding, bronze reliefs and mosaics shape the interior.
Construction began in 1851 under József Hild, but a dome collapse caused an interruption. Miklós Ybl took over the work and brought the project to completion in 1905.
The name refers to Saint Stephen, Hungary's first king, whose mummified right hand rests in a glass reliquary inside. Visitors can view the relic and see how important this ruler remains to Hungarian identity.
The church opens daily for visitors and can usually be explored until late afternoon. An elevator or a stairway with several hundred steps leads to the viewing platform below the dome.
The 96-meter height matches exactly the height of the Hungarian Parliament Building, symbolizing the balance between church and state. Both structures together shape the city's skyline.
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