The Book of Kells
Illuminated pages.
Cathalgibbons5 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sonse — CC BY 2.0 · Cristina Morettini 95 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Yair Haklai — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Superchilum — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Patrick Theiner — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sailko — CC BY 3.0 · Hernán Piñera from Marbella — CC BY-SA 2.0
Dublin's best-known cultural sight, inside the historic campus of Trinity College, founded in 1592, where the «Book of Kells» is displayed: an illuminated Latin manuscript of the four Gospels from around 800, one of the finest illuminated manuscripts in the world, which reached the college in 1661. The manuscript dazzles with its bright colours and fine interlaced decoration, painted by monks with astonishing care, and before seeing it you walk through an exhibition explaining how it was made, from preparing the vellum to the inks and pigments. Then comes the «Long Room» of the Old Library, a 65-metre hall built between 1712 and 1732 under a barrel-vaulted wooden ceiling, which held 200,000 of the library's oldest books, along with the Brian Boru harp, Ireland's national symbol. The books have been moved out for the library's redevelopment, except in the first four bays. Tickets start at €26; it opens Monday to Thursday 08:30–18:30, Friday and Saturday until 19:00 and Sunday 09:00–18:30, per the official website. Book a time slot ahead, as summer queues are long, and stroll the quiet college squares afterwards for free.
Illuminated pages.
Under its vaulted roof.
Since 1592.
Trinity College, College Green, central Dublin
National Museum of Ireland – ArchaeologyThe archaeology branch of the National Museum of Ireland, in an elegant Victoria5 minutes walk4.5
National Gallery of IrelandIreland's national art museum, founded in 1854 and opened ten years later, home 6 minutes walk4.8
Ha'penny BridgeAn elegant cast-iron footbridge over the River Liffey, built in May 1816 with it6 minutes walk4.6
St Stephen's GreenThe largest of central Dublin's Georgian garden squares, covering 8.9 hectares a8 minutes walk4.8
Dublin CastleA historic complex in the heart of Dublin, built on the site of a Norman castle 9 minutes walk4.2Most have been moved out for the Old Library redevelopment, except in the first four bays, but the hall is still worth seeing, per the official website.