Szablyár Péter: Step by step - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2010)

The Rebirth of styles - the stairs of Historicism

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■ Halberdien lined up on the central it airway ofj the Parliament Building. 1935

leading up to the hall below the dome. Of the 29 staircases in the building, the ceremonial stairs are the most dazzling in their effect. The hall casing these stairs is Steindl's finest achievement as an architect. Ascending the 96 steps — the number alluding to the date of the Millenary celebrations - one sees the space broaden out: it is from the 16-sided gallery running around it that the gigantic dome-hall can be glimpsed.

The stairs of Budapest’s Opera House

Miklós Ybl was commissioned in 1874 to design for Sugár (today's Andrássy) út, the avenue built for the Millenary celebrations, one of its jewels - the Opera House. The grand opening on 27 September 1884 was attended by Prime Minister Kálmán Tisza and intendant Baron Frigyes Podmaniczky in the entourage of King Francis Joseph I. Acting as conductor on the ceremonial occasion was composer Ferenc Erkel himself. The opening event nearly erupted in a scandal as the crowds assembled outside almost managed to push their way into the building.

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