Antwerp's wealthy built this
church as their private place of worship. There are 23 burial chapels and
assorted other rooms constructed from over 100 types of marble and decorated
with the work of famous artists of the time. Rubens himself is buried here
alongside his family, in a small chapel adorned with a whimsical family portrait
entitled Our Lady Surrounded by Saints. In a way the church is a defiance to both the principles that all are
equal to God and that you can’t take it with you.
Visiting Antwerp
Antwerp’s small
airport handles only a few international flights, mainly from London.
The city is, however, readily accessible by bus and train. To improve the
probability of decent weather, visit Antwerp
between May and September.