What to Look for in Budapest
Budapest, Hungary is a fun and exciting city of bridges, bathhouses, palaces, and architectural diversity. It is a wondrous place where getting lost amongst the central streets will only add to the adventure. Budapest is home to many impressive buildings, but one that stands out above the others is the State Opera House.
Declared one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the State Opera House is definitely worth a visit. This Neo-Renaissance building opened its doors in 1884, after nine long years of construction. The inside auditorium and staircase were designed by Miklos Ybl, one of the most prominent architects of his time, and the decorative frescos were painted by world-renowned Hungarian painters. The State Opera House is still considered one of the best in Europe.
Fishermen’s Bastion is also a great site worth visiting. Located in the Castle District on the Buda side of the Danube, Fishermen’s Bastion was the city’s main lookout during the Middle Ages. The seven towers that adorn the walls represent the Magyar Tribes that settled there in 896. In the centre of the square is a bronze statue of Stephen I.
Atop this large hill are several other areas worth a visit; including the magnificent Romanesque style Matthias Church, which was originally built in 1015. During the second half of the 14th century it underwent extensive reconstruction, and now represents the late Gothic style. It was restored yet again in the 19th century, and remains the second largest medieval church in Buda and the seventh in the Hungarian Kingdom.