The Copenhagen skyline is dominated by spires and towers. One of the more dominant and conspicuous ones is this one, the spire of the Church of Our Saviour. It's in the same area as yesterdays church namely Christianshavn and most noticeable is its spiral staircase on the outside of the spire. As the only church in Denmark it's built in Dutch Baroque-style in the late 1600's at a time when church construction in Denmark was at a standstill (nothing new under the sun - they had an economic crisis at that time too). The spire was inspired by Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza in Rome.
Legend tells that the architect threw himself from the spire when he realized that the spiral was the wrong way around. The story can't be true though, the spire was added 50 years later and the then architect of that died in his bed seven years later, but it's a nice story to tell the tourists.
On top of the spire is a figure with a flag called the Saviour Man that is called the ugliest sculpture in Copenhagen but that is due to its exaggerated proportions because it's only meant to be seen from afar.
The church itself has been closed for the last three years due to renovation but it's scheduled for opening in September.
BTW it's possibly for the adventurous visitor to climb the stairs on the spire, but vertigo is a sure companion on the stairs :-)
Legend tells that the architect threw himself from the spire when he realized that the spiral was the wrong way around. The story can't be true though, the spire was added 50 years later and the then architect of that died in his bed seven years later, but it's a nice story to tell the tourists.
On top of the spire is a figure with a flag called the Saviour Man that is called the ugliest sculpture in Copenhagen but that is due to its exaggerated proportions because it's only meant to be seen from afar.
The church itself has been closed for the last three years due to renovation but it's scheduled for opening in September.
BTW it's possibly for the adventurous visitor to climb the stairs on the spire, but vertigo is a sure companion on the stairs :-)
Thanks for telling the truth :). Did you go to the top?
ReplyDeleteAh, you did and got vertigo :))
ReplyDeleteVery interesting building and story (true or not). The spire, as seen in your photo, has something of a pagoda an I would obviously climb it!
ReplyDeleteVery nice angle and such blue sky to show off the architecture. Thanks for your comments about the Frank Lloyd Wright Series. I was hoping it would be of interest to people. I have a few more days and then I will move on to different Chihuly, cactus and desert photos. I was in Morocco for the past two weeks so I wanted to make sure there was a series of something that would be informative and different for people to enjoy while I was away. Morocco was very interesting and, surprisingly, very French. A very different experience than Egypt or Jordan. It was a quite enjoyable trip. I will spend the next week catching up on everyone's websites and enjoying their photos. Thanks for your comments on my site. I have read them all.
ReplyDeleteAnother masterpiece!!!! LOVE the angle! Love the blue...Love your photography! Need I say more?
ReplyDeleteGreat story to tell the tourists, about the man throwing himself down the spiral stairs.
ReplyDeleteNice grand church, am surprised it is closed.
No, I haven't been to the top, I get dizzy wearing thick socks, so this climb is not one for me:-) But I'll look forward to seeing the inside when it open again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool story to go with such an enthralling church. I think I would risk the vertigo and my fear of heights to make the trip up to the spire :)
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