Szent István-Bazilika (HDR)

[Octane]

Hi all,

This is Szent István-Bazilika (St. Stephen's Basilica) in Budapest, Hungary.

The basilica is named after Stephen, the first King of Hungary. Stephen's mummified hand is housed in the reliquary. Taking 54 years to build, it was completed in 1905. The delay in construction was hastened by the dome collapsing in 1868; the entire building was then demolished and rebuilt from scratch.

One of the two bell towers holds Hungary's largest bell, weighing over 9 tonnes.

Along with the Parlament (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=36412) building, it is the highest building in Budapest, standing at 96 metres tall.

The first image shows the basilica and courtyard; and, the second, the beautiful architecture of its interior.

Both HDR composites.

Comments and critique, as always, is welcome.

Regards,
Humayun

[iceman]

Incredible shots, Humayan. The HDR is done just right!

[Striker]

Love that second image....gorgeous colours and detail...nice job.

[Matty P]

Fantastic images Humayun.

The HDR shots have really brought out the beauty of this building.

:thumbsup:

[RB]

Beautiful images H !
The colours and detail are wonderful, great work on the HDR process.

[janoskiss]

I grew up not far from this building... and my parents named me after St Stephen..
Great shots, well done!

[gary]

Once again some fabulous shots and the interior is one of the best
you have posted in this series. Simply beautiful.

I visited Budapest during the Cold War so it is interesting to hear that
this basilica is still one of the tallest buildings there. However, one would
have to raise an architectural eyebrow to the monstrosity that appears
to the left of the basilica in your first shot!

They had this great looking neoclassical structure and then some genius
designs a concrete box which a bunch of bureaucrats decides will look
great parked next to the basilica. :doh:

[Octane]

Mike,

Thank you. I had a lot of fun taking those pictures. :)



Tony,

Thank you. :)



Matty,

Cheers, mate! It was a gorgeous building, especially inside.



Andrew,

Thank you, sir. :)



Steve,

Wow! Budapest was really bizarre. The day I arrived there, it was murky, gloomy, dark, raining and very miserable. Everyone seemed to look depressed. I couldn't wait to get out of there. The following day, was the most beautiful spring day I could possibly imagine -- clear blue sky and the sun shining brightly. It was then that I discovered what a jewel Budapest really is. It was in the top three places I visited in my stint over there.

Thanks!



Gary,

Thanks, sir!

I couldn't believe how modern the Pest side of the city was. I really liked it. You're right, though, about the mindset of the people who give the go-ahead to building monstrosities next to classical buildings. :screwy:

Regards,
Humayun