We went on a day trip to the city of Esztergom in northern hungary, the catholic capital of Hungary famous for its magnificent basilica. Built between 1001-1010 under the order of Hungary’s first king Saint Steven, it is today the third largest basilica in Europe. Just standing at its steps makes your mouth gape at its breathtaking size. Inside is the altar famous for its fresco’s and altar portrait, the largest in Europe. We explored the entire building it seems as we went down into the crypt and up on to of the dome. The crypt had the remains of archbishops and bishops like the famous resting place of Jozsef Mindszenty, an archbishop who openly denounced the anti-religiousness of the communist regime and thus was incarcerated and tortured. From the dome we could see the entire city of Esztergom and Slovakia.

For lunch we went to a Hungarian restaurant called a Csarda, which is an old Hungarian term for tavern. The ambiance was rustic and full of Hungarian countryside symbols. We ate a traditional and scrumptious Hungarian meal of chicken paprikas and listened to a fiddler and cymbalom player who played gypsy style music. It was fascinating to hear and be entertained in the rural Hungarian style. Though I will mention that gypsy music can be heard many places all over Hungary and is a pervasive and beloved style throughout the country as well as other parts of Europe inspiring famous compositons by Liszt, Brahms, and others. It was another culturally fulfilling day in Hungary!

Location: Esztergom