St. Mary Magdalene's Church Tower

Budapest, Hungary

The St. Mary Magdalene's Church, dating from the middle of the 13th century, originally served as the parish church for the Hungarian citizens of the town (the Mátyás Church was for the use of the town’s German citizens). During the 14th and 15th centuries it was enlarged several times. During the first-half of the Turkish occupation it remained the only Christian church in the Castle; during the second-half it was converted into a mosque. Following the defeat of the Turks in 1686 it was given back to the Franciscan Order, who demolished most of the church except for the tower, and used the stones to build a new single-nave church, in the Baroque style. As a result of the damage sustained by the church during the 2nd World War, the nave was demolished and only the Gothic style tower was restored. The ruins behind the church have been used to form an exhibition of the history of the church. In 1792 Emperor Francis I, King of Hungary, was crowned in the church.

References:

Comments

Your name


Address

Kapisztrán tér 4, Budapest, Hungary
See all sites in Budapest

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Ruins in Hungary

More Information

www.budapest.com

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby


Matthias Church (0,4 km)
Fisherman's Bastion (0,5 km)
St. Stephen's Basilica (1,9 km)
Hungarian Parliament Building (1,3 km)
Hungarian National Gallery (1,2 km)
Buda Castle (1,2 km)
Heroes' Square (3,9 km)
Citadella (2,3 km)
Dohány Street Synagogue (2,5 km)


Memento Park (8,9 km)
Esztergom Basilica (39,5 km)
Esztergom Castle (39,4 km)
Vác Cathedral (31,2 km)
Bishop's Palace (31 km)
Gödöllo Palace (26 km)
Visegrád Castle (32,4 km)
Nagytétény Castle (13 km)
Savoy Castle (37,7 km)

User Reviews

Joao Gordicho (2 years ago)
This is a cool tower were you have to climb several narrow stairs in order to arrive to a kind of observatory but is wort it. You'll have some nice views from Buda over to Pest. We've visited this attraction for free with the Budapest 72h card. It's very easy, you just need to show the card at the entrance. The Budapest card gives you lots of free access and discount access options in Budapest.
Mark Lynch (2 years ago)
Fun visit and climb up the tower (172 steps). Wonderful views of Budapest from the top. Worth the 1500 Krona each.
Krisztina Leban (3 years ago)
Nice place to visit.. In a great historical area
travel 25.io (3 years ago)
The Church of Mary Magdalene was built in the 13th century and it can tell a lot about Hungarian history. During the Ottoman Occupation of Hungary it was the only functioning Christian church in the country but then it was transformed to a mosque in the 16th century. Its original function was later restored and it was used by Franz I as the coronation venue. It was damaged a lot in the World Wars and it was almost completely destroyed during the Communist Era. Today you can go to the top and have a great view over Budapest and while you go up steep stone stairs you can feel its long history. Enjoy the life, travel25
Sebastian Grimm (3 years ago)
It was the oldest church in town. The view from the top is really nice. It is possible to open the windows to get a better view for a picture.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania
Photo from Flickr, copyright CONTROTONO

Historic Site of the week

Palazzo Colonna

The Palazzo Colonna is a palatial block of buildings built in part over ruins of an old Roman Serapeum, and has belonged to the prestigious Colonna family for over twenty generations.

The first part of the palace dates from the 13th century, and tradition holds that the building hosted Dante in his visit to Rome. The first documentary mention notes that the property hosted Cardinal Giovanni and Giacomo Colonna in the 13th century. It was also home to Cardinal Oddone Colonna before he ascended to the papacy as Martin V (1417–1431).

With his passing, the palace was sacked during feuds, and the main property passed into the hands of the Della Rovere family. It returned to the Colonna family when Marcantonio I Colonna married Lucrezia Gara Franciotti Della Rovere, the niece of pope Julius II. The Colonna"s alliance to the Habsburg power, likely protected the palace from looting during the Sack of Rome (1527).

Starting with Filippo Colonna (1578–1639) many changes have refurbished and create a unitary complex around a central garden. Architects including Girolamo Rainaldi and Paolo Marucelli labored on specific projects. Only in the 17th and 18th centuries were the main facades completed. Much of this design was completed by Antonio del Grande (including the grand gallery), and Girolamo Fontana (decoration of gallery). In the 18th century, the long low facade designed by Nicola Michetti with later additions by Paolo Posi with taller corner blocks (facing Piazza Apostoli) was constructed recalls earlier structures resembling a fortification.

The main gallery (completed 1703) and the masterful Colonna art collection was acquired after 1650 by both the cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew the Connestabile Lorenzo Onofrio Colonna and includes works by Lorenzo Monaco, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Palma the Elder, Salviati, Bronzino, Tintoretto, Pietro da Cortona, Annibale Carracci (painting of The Beaneater), Guercino, Francesco Albani, Muziano and Guido Reni. Ceiling frescoes by Filippo Gherardi, Giovanni Coli, Sebastiano Ricci, and Giuseppe Bartolomeo Chiari celebrate the role of Marcantonio II Colonna in the battle of Lepanto (1571). The gallery is open to the public on Saturday mornings.

The older wing of the complex known as the Princess Isabelle"s apartments, but once housing Martin V"s library and palace, contains frescoes by Pinturicchio, Antonio Tempesta, Crescenzio Onofri, Giacinto Gimignani, and Carlo Cesi. It contains a collection of landscapes and genre scenes by painters like Gaspard Dughet, Caspar Van Wittel (Vanvitelli), and Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Along with the possessions of the Doria-Pamphilij and Pallavacini-Rospigliosi families, this is one of the largest private art collections in Rome.

Map Top Sights Tags Historical Periods City Guides About Us Sign Up Upload new site
© 2021 SpottingHistory.com. All rights reserved.