Orkney: Kirkwall – St Magnus Cathedral
St Magnus Cathedral towers above Kirkwall, built in 1137, when the Norse Earles of Orkney ruled the island (Norwegian settlers and at the time vassals of the Norwegian kings). In fact, the Cathedral was named after Earl Magnus, one of the early Orkney rulers. The original building was Romanesque in architecture, but later Gothic elements were added, especially after Scotland took possession of Orkney, all together construction took over 300 years to complete. The pinkish stone came from the nearby quarry. The domed interior is stunning and the cathedral is packed with relics from the old Norse days and the Scottish rule – a lot of stone and wood carving, art, windows – it just breathes with history. This is the northernmost cathedral in UK.
