Early Christian Sites

The Early Christian (or Paleochristian) era roughly covers the period 100-600 AD. Early Christian places include Roman catacombs, ancient baptisteries, early Byzantine churches, churches built by Constantine and sites connected with the early church fathers and major councils. In some cases a newer church has been built over the original, but most of those listed retain their early Christian characteristics. Also included are museums with a large collection of Paleochristian art. Below is an illustrated index of the 39 Early Christian Sites profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.

Featured Early Christian Sites

Carthage Tunisia Located on an strategically important site, Carthage was an important classical city and a major center of early Christianity. Baptistère Saint-Jean Poitiers, Poitou-Charentes, France Poitiers Baptistery was built around 360 AD, making it the oldest church in France. It was expanded in the 6th century, decorated with frescoes in the 12th century, and is now a museum. Church of the Loaves and Fishes Tabgha, Galilee, Israel This church commemorates the Feeding of the Five Thousand and includes a portion of rock where the miraculous meal was laid. The Byzantine-style church preserves splendid 5th-century mosaics.

All Early Christian Sites (by Country) Baptistère Saint-Jean Poitiers, Poitou-Charentes, France Trier Cathedral Trier, Germany Bishop's Museum Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany Church of the Loaves and Fishes Tabgha, Galilee, Israel St. Peter's Basilica Rome, Lazio, Italy Santa Maria Maggiore Rome, Lazio, Italy Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura Rome, Lazio, Italy San Clemente Rome, Lazio, Italy Santa Costanza Rome, Lazio, Italy San Giovanni in Fonte (Lateran Baptistery) Rome, Lazio, Italy San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) Rome, Lazio, Italy Santa Maria in Trastevere Rome, Lazio, Italy San Paolo fuori le Mura Rome, Lazio, Italy Santa Sabina Rome, Lazio, Italy San Vitale Basilica Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Arian Baptistery Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Neonian Baptistery Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy Paestum Byzantine Church Paestum, Campania, Italy Catacombs of St. John Siracusa, Sicily, Italy San Salvatore Spoleto, Umbria, Italy Milan Baptistery Milan, Lombardy, Italy San Lorenzo Maggiore Milan, Lombardy, Italy Early Christian Catacombs Rome, Lazio, Italy Naples Cathedral Naples, Campania, Italy Florence Baptistery Florence, Tuscany, Italy Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan Jordan Jerash Jordan St. Paul's Catacombs Rabat, Malta Island, Malta Archaeological Site Geneva, Canton Geneva, Switzerland Dura Europos Syria Maalula Monasteries Syria Carthage Tunisia Basilica of St. John Ephesus, Turkey Cave of the Seven Sleepers Ephesus, Turkey Church of Mary Ephesus, Turkey Cave Church of St. Peter Antioch, Turkey Seleucia Pieria Church Antioch, Turkey Pisidian Antioch Turkey

Sacred Destinations Home     About     Contact     Using Images     Advertise     Blog     Twitter     Privacy Policy
Except where indicated otherwise, all content and images © 2005-12 Sacred Destinations. All rights reserved.

Sacred Destinations is an online travel guide to sacred sites, pilgrimages, holy places, religious history, sacred places, historical religious sites, archaeological sites,
religious festivals, sacred sites, spiritual retreats, religious travel and spiritual journeys.
Free content for your Google homepage or website! Get the Sacred Destinations Daily Photo Gadget

Travel resources: Spiritual Tour Directory, Sightseeing Tours, Hotels, Travel Insurance
Popular categories: Biblical Sites, Cathedrals, Catholic Shrines, Footsteps of Jesus, Luther Sites, Megalithic Mysteries
Popular sacred sites: Easter Island, Lourdes, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Oberammergau Passion Play, Shroud of Turin, Sistine Chapel, St. Mark's Basilica, St. Peter's Basilica, Stonehenge
Popular city guides: Rome, Ravenna, Ephesus, Assisi, Paris, Jerusalem
Popular maps: England Map, Italy Map, Jerusalem Map, London Map, Paris Map, Rome Map

Sister site: Stock photos of religious art and architecture: Art History Images