A short jaunt to Salisbury brings a well-endowed giant and an amazing cathedral.
Day 29, my penultimate day. (I’ve always wanted to use that word.) It’s been a very long journey around Great Britain, but a trip around Great Britain wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Salisbury and it’s an amazing cathedral.
Day 29 was only a partial day, as I had separate plans for the evening. Considering all the driving I had to do that day, it’s amazing I was still able to fit in two British wonders. However, before visiting Salisbury, I had to stop and see one of Britain’s most humorous gems.
The official route I took on Day 29 of my Around Great Britain in 30 Days adventure.
Stop 1: Cerne Abbas Giant
One cannot visit Southwestern England without visiting Stonehenge or the Cerne Abbas Giant. As I have already seen Stonehenge (awesome by the way), it was time for this well-endowed figure.
*snickers*
The Cerne Abbas Giant is a chalk figure carved into the side of a hill. The Giant may be ancient, or more modern. Recent tests state that he comes from the medieval period, but he was always cared for by the local population. However, I find the recent study’s reasoning a little iffy. New chalk could have been brought in at a later date. Whatever the case, the Giant is not alone. Chalk figures are all over these hills.
The Giant is best seen from the air. *Still snickering*
Stop 2: Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral is one of the top churches in England, not quite on the level as Canterbury Cathedral or Westminster, but still up there. It holds the best surviving of the original four copies of the Magna Carta (a super important document). Salisbury even holds a couple of records in Britain, the tallest spire at 404 ft (123 m) and the largest cloister. (You probably all know by now how I feel about cloisters.) The cathedral started from scratch in the 13th century and was built in less than 40 years, pretty impressive considering the size of the place.
The awesome entrance to cathedral close (which is also the largest in Britain).
That spire is super impressive.
It’s amazing that there are still so many statues on the front of the cathedral.
A very impressive interior. Although, I’m not to sure how I feel about that very modern looking baptismal font.
This weird thing is actually a medieval clock made around 1386. The clock would pull a chain connected to a bell on the hour. It was originally located in a now demolished bell tower. Now, it is probably the oldest working clock in existence.
This wouldn’t be a medieval church without a medieval knight’s tomb now, would it?
Even on a cloudy day, it was bright inside the cathedral.
The quire (choir), with its elaborate wooden pews and views of the altar and front of the church, a stable of all cathedrals.
A lovely painted ceiling on this end.
Sure, let’s just have a starved version of yourself as a very old man on your tomb for everyone to see. Seems like a great idea.
Very moody back here.
Blocking a bunch of windows with this giant tomb for a ruffled knight and his wife.
Now for one of my favorite tombs. So very colorful.
Those eyes get me every time.
Cloister!
It’s a big one! Although I’ve now seen bigger cloisters in Italy. Sorry Great Britain. (See Monreale.)
Still absolutely awesome though.
Um…gargoyles are supposed to be hideous, not cute.
While Day 29 was a short day for exploration, I did enjoy what I saw. Luckily, I already saw a lot of this area before this trip the previous Spring, hence the skip over, so don’t miss Bath, Stonehenge, Windsor, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Cotswolds, etc. Of course, the Cerne Abbas Giant and Salisbury are must-sees as well!
or
Start at the beginning of my Around Great Britain in 30 Days adventure!
