Church of Our Lady, Bruges
Aside from the many other attractions Bruges holds for the visitor, including breweries, macabre art in the Groeninge Museum, and the magnificent Belfort (bell tower) overlooking the square, stands the massive Church of Our Lady. The church took two centuries to build, and boasts the tallest spire in Belgium (and the second tallest brick tower in the world). Perhaps as a result of the long build-time, the church is a mish-mash of architectural styles, and some of the interior decoration looks like it was selected by Tim Burton. Aside from the sculpture of Madonna and Child by Michaelangelo, there are murals adorned with skulls, to strike fear of death into the hearts of the congregation, and there is a statue of Jesus holding an inverted cross.
Subversive symbology, or just inocuous new perspectives on icons? You decide.
Photo by Charlie Tyack
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