One understandably believes oneself, as if rapt to heaven, to enter one of the chambers in Paradise.
– Author’s name withheld
You’re standing inside a royal chapel surrounded by one of the most extensive collections of 13th century stained glass anywhere in the world. As you turn 360 degrees and see light streaming in through every pane, you wonder whether the building has walls since the only thing seeming to keep the massive panels upright are a few, scarce columns beneath a traditional, arched Gothic ceiling.
Built to compete with Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia, the chapel proclaimed the emergence of a new dynasty vying for control of the flagging Holy Roman Empire. Like designs used to construct a church for the first Holy Roman Emperor, this chapel offers two levels for worshippers. The windowless Lower Chapel painted in dark blues and gold was used by palace courtiers and the king’s personal guards while the Upper Chapel, bathed in sunlight, was reserved for the monarch.
When opened, the chapel was used to house important relics of the Passion though they were later removed to a nearby cathedral. A century later a scholar climbing the stairs to the upper chamber described the experience with the quote cited above.
Tell us, where are you now?
The answer to our previous Where are you now? quiz was Hakone, Japan. And it was first answered correctly by Beth Balberchak. Congratulations, Beth!
Who will beat her in naming the chapel described above? Go to the Contact page and enter your answer or send it to us at reidandrobie@gmail.com. We’ll announce the winner and the correct response in the next Where are you now? post.
Good luck!
Reid & Robie 