When you think of a list of amazing travel attractions around the world, what comes to mind? Many would probably answer hotels, skyscrapers, bridges, town squares and beaches. But how about staircases?
Staircases are probably the most plain and mundane thing one could talk about when they make up a "Must See" list. However after climbing these five awesome staircases, you are more than likely going to come away with a much different opinion.
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So-so.
WOW!
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I always found the Spanish Steps to be verrated with a lot of bored tourists sitting all over them.
Unbelievable.
Ahh, the 90s.
It ascends twenty feet, making two complete revolutions up to the choir loft without the use of nails or apparent center support. It has been surmised that the central spiral of the staircase is narrow enough to serve as a central beam. Nonetheless there was no attachment unto any wall or pole in the original stairway, although in 1887 -- 10 years after it was built -- a railing was added and the outer spiral was fastened to an adjacent pillar [2]. Instead of metal nails, the staircase was constructed using dowels or wooden pegs [3]. The wood for the staircase cannot be found anywhere in the region. The stairs had 33 steps, the age of Jesus when he died.
Also, the reason there was no staircase to the choir loft is because Archbishop Lamy's nephew murdered the architect before he could build one. Willa Cather omits that little detail in her fictional portrait of Lamy, "Death Comes for the Archbishop."
but haven't seen the rest -- yet :)