St. Paul's Cathedral. St. Paul's Cathedral is the fifth church dedicated to St. Paul, the patron saint of London, built on this site. The first wooden church stood here back in 604 BC. Today's St. Paul's Cathedral was raised after its predecessor was burnt down in the Great Fire of London in 1666. The construction lasted about 40 years. Even when finished, the church was renewed periodically and decorated with new details, such as, for example, the mosaic on the ceiling above the choir that was ready only in 1890. Quite often, St Paul's Cathedral is chosen as the venue for various public ceremonies. In 1981, TV broadcasted the wedding of Charles and Diana that took place in the cathedral. When observing the cathedral, do not forget to visit Whispering Gallery, a round balcony located at the base of the dome. A word spoken in a whisper here is clearly audible on the other side of the canopy.
British Museum. The British Museum, which exhibits more than 6 million items, is one of the largest museums in the cultural history of the mankind. This is the place where you will be able to see exhibits from around the world that throw light upon history and culture from ancient times to the present. Every day, the British Museum attracts a lot of visitors, and the reason for this is not only its rich collection. The large building made in the neoclassical style is also the location of the famous reading hall of the former British Library. The grand opening of the courtyard of the museum took place in 2000. Thanks to the projects by the architect Sir Norman Foster the courtyard has become the largest glazed square in Europe. The British Museum was established in 1753 on the basis of the collection of Sir Henry Sloan. Ordinary people have become able to visit the museum since 1759. Today, the British Museum is known primarily for its collection of mummies, the Rosetta stone and the exposition of antique Elgin Marbles.
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