Up-cycled – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry
Girona Cathedral, Spain. image credit: © Olena Serditova | Dreamstime

up-cycled tower

carrying the weight of worship

with silenced bells

****

Crowning a throne of 90 stone steps, stands Girona Cathedral, one of the oldest Catholic churches in Spain (consecrated 1046 AD, rebuilt in the Gothic and Baroque styles from 1416 to the 19th century A.D.)

***Featured Doors: The more accessible, North facing, Apostles Portal is commonly used for entry into Girona Cathedral instead of the cathedral’s main facade’s 90-step entrance. (The Apostles’ portal and its closeup details are below)

Apostles Portal, Girona Cathedral, Spain. Image credit:© John Critchley | Dreamstime
The Apostles Portal, closeup detail. Girona Cathedral, Spain. Image credit: © Pavel Adashkevich | Dreamstime

Trivia #1: One of Girona Cathedral’s original bell towers was removed in the Cathedral’s mid-15th century A.D. reconstruction. The removed bell tower was “up-cycled” into one of the Gothic buttresses supporting the Cathedral’s historic 22 meters (72 feet) wide nave — the widest Gothic nave in the World. (The cathedral’s buttresses are shown below.)

Buttresses, Girona Cathedral, Spain. Image credit: © Sjankauskas | Dreamstime

Trivia#2: The 90 stairs of the Girona Cathedral’s main entrance are famous in popular culture for two reasons. First, as the platform for various herculean feats of speed stair-climbing sponsored by The Guinness Book of World Records. And, as the filming location for HBO’s Game of Thrones, Season 6, Episode 10, “The Winds of Winter,” (2015).

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And, for More

 #ThursdayDoors visit Dan Antion – No Facilities

Teresa, My camera and I

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

62 thoughts on “Up-cycled – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors”

    1. A mix of styles and many centuries of rebuilding adds to its uniqueness. It’s the kind of building that one can’t quite pin-point its style as every side has a different look to it. Happy Thursday, my friend.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It’s always good to see our oldest building still in use. I was reading about a historic school museum in Glasgow yesterday which is closed for refurbishment/renovations. It will continue as a museum, but the council are also planning to use it as a school again too

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Your closeup of the door, viewing from below, is wonderful Suzette. A return trip to Spain is in my travel thoughts so I enjoyed reading about this Cathedral and her doors very much.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. This is such a unique cathedral. Not the shape I would expect, but quite an achievement for the time periods in which it was built/rebuilt. Interesting that they would recycle the bell tower, but I guess keeping the church standing was more important than a second bell. I love that you focused on that for your poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree Dan and great point about the bell tower’s recycle. Perhaps the community don’t think of it but each time I look at a photo of the church with the lone bell tower, I am reminded that great achievements (in their case the world record for the width of their nave in a time when they did not have the tools of today) come with lasting and sometimes very public costs.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Ancient, yet magnificent structure, Suzette! Reconstruction of the cathedral played a great role to maintain its grandeur. All the important points have been covered in few words in your beautiful haiku.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes you are so right Kaushal, the upkeep of this ancient structure is a testimony to its longevity indeed.
      Thank you for your kind support and gracious comments.
      Happy Thursday, Kaushal. Peace

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Magnificent structure formed over centuries of work with its walls and spaces in different styles.
    I particularly like the round blue window.

    Another gorgeous Thursday viewing.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh yes absolutely, you indeed make an important point. Fascinating that overtime they stuck to the original design and added certain features as the structure came together.
        Same to you Poet, enjoy.
        We don’t have an internet friendly day. Very slow.

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