The trail, which is thought to have attracted in the region of a thousand visitors last year, will take in venues such as St German's Cathedral, the Isle Gallery and Patrick Church.

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After the war, when Coventry Cathedral, which had almost been obliterated by German bombs in 1940, was celebrating its reconstruction and Britten was asked for a new composition to mark the dedication, he quickly agreed.

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You could see that here in this cathedral at Christmas Masses, speaking in English, German, Spanish and Italian.

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In the second world war it was the first German city to fall to the Allies and much of it was reduced to rubble (although the damaged cathedral survived).

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne