Sites in Spectacular Settings
Many of the great sacred places of the world are enhanced by their dramatic or exceptionally beautiful locations. Below is an illustrated index of the 26 Sites in Spectacular Settings profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
Made famous by James Bond, this is perhaps the most dramatically positioned Meteora monastery. It is perched atop a slender pinnacle and accessible only by 140 steep steps.
This little 14th-century monastery of the Meteora is approached by a relatively gentle path. Inside it features splendid frescoes by famed Cretan painter Theophanes the Monk.
Located an hour from Angkor Wat, this temple hidden in the jungle is perhaps the best place to feel like Lara Croft or Indiana Jones.
This atmospheric site on the Isle of Lewis dates from 2900-2600 BC. It consists of a large stone circle surrounding a burial chamber, with four avenues of stones forming a cross shape.
Calvary Hill is lined with 14 Stations of the Cross built in the 1950s for pilgrims. The summit provides fine views of Lake Titicaca and makes a nice place to watch the sunset.
Built in 962 and enlarged in the 12th century, this pilgrimage chapel stands atop a rock pinnacle 260 feet high. It contains a marvelous carved portal and frescoes.
Delos was a major sacred site in ancient Greece, second only to Delphi. A short boat ride from the island of Mykonos, the ruins of Delos include a variety of ancient temples and shrines.
Founded by Cistercian monks in 1132, this is the largest monastic ruin in Britain. It offers many interesting things to see in a beautiful natural setting.
The most famous and important of the Meteora monasteries, Great Meteoron has a large church topped by a 12-sided dome and decorated with elaborate frescoes.
On this tidal island off the northeast coast of England, a monastery was founded in the 7th century by St. Aidan of Iona. Today it is a center for Celtic Christianity, a place for spiritual retreats, and a popular tourist destination.
This well-preserved ancient ceremonial site high on a mountain ridge in Peru contains the ruins of a large Inca palace, temples and other buildings.
The Mnajdra Temples are three conjoined Neolithic temples on the southern coast of Malta, ranging in dates from 3600 to 2000 BC. The southern temple is aligned with the solstices and equinoxes.
This small rocky island just off the north coast of France is topped with a magnificent fortified Benedictine abbey, built in the 11th century.
St Nicholas' Church in Oddington, Gloucestershire, is a village parish church distinguished by a magical woodland setting and an entire wall of medieval wall paintings.
Widely considered the most atmospheric and magical of the Mayan sites, Palenque was at its peak from 600 to 700 AD. It is famed for its unique and impressive architecture and royal history.
Founded by St. Bernard of Clairvaux in 1132, Rievaulx Abbey now lies in picturesque ruins in a North Yorkshire valley.
An active nunnery in the Meteora with a pleasant courtyard, accessible by a new bridge.
Founded in 1148, the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is a lovely Cistercian abbey and one of the best places to see Provence's famed lavender fields.
Not easily accessible by road even today, the isolated and peaceful environment of Shap Abbey was perfect for the solitude sought by Premonstratensian monks in the late 12th century.
The Castle Church of Spiez is an atmospheric 10th-century church on the shores of Lake Thun. Inside are faded medieval frescoes.
This ancient abbey in Cornwall is England's parallel to Mont-St-Michel across the channel in France. Both were founded after visions of the Archangel Michael and only accessible during low tide.
Boasting a spectacular location in the Pyrenees mountains of southern France, the 11th-century abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou has a wonderful collection of Romanesque carvings.
One of the most atmospheric sites at Angkor, this 12th-century Buddhist temple is fighting a losing battle with the mighty roots of the thriving jungle.
Spectacularly located on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, Tulum is a late-Maya site that was active from around 1200 AD until the arrival of the Spanish.
If you're a scuba diver or snorkeler, you can't miss Caesarea's new "underwater museum," the first of its kind in the world.
This popular Meteora monastery features a pleasant garden and a friendly monk who often chats with visitors there.
