Churches
Below is an illustrated index of the 320 Churches profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
The Ladies' Abbey was founded by Queen Mathilda, the wife of William the Conqueror, in 1063. Its church, La Trinité, is a fine example of Romanesque architecture.
The Men's Abbey was founded by William the Conquerer in the 11th century. Its church, the Romanesque Église St-Etienne, is the largest and most impressive church in Caen.
The Agia Sophia is the largest and most famous Byzantine church in Thessaloniki, Greece. Built in the 8th century, it was modeled after the more famous 6th-century version in Istanbul.
Located on the Ancient Agora of Athens, this Byzantine church dates from the 10th century. It is one of the oldest churches in the city.
Founded in 675 as part of an abbey, this church was built over a Roman building. Its proximity to the Tower of London gave it many royal and historic associations over the centuries.
The highest spire in Hildesheim belongs to the Gothic Andreaskirche, begun in 1389 and rebuilt after war damage in 1956. Inside is a notable organ and the tower can be climbed for fine city views.
Martin Luther preached his last sermons in this Gothic hall church on the main square. The pulpit is preserved in its original place, the altarpiece is a fine example of late Gothic art.
Once part of a priory, this church dates from the 11th century. It has sculptures over two portals, lively carved corbels, and some unusual capitals inside.
Excavations beneath Geneva's cathedral have revealed Roman mosaics, several Early Christian churches and a medieval crypt. A catwalk leads visitors through the ancient ruins.
This 18th-century Baroque and Rococo church built by the Asam brothers leaves no surface undecorated.
In this Protestant lecture hall, John Knox preached from 1556 to 1559 and John Calvin founded a Christian academy in 1559.
Located in a peaceful village setting overlooking a pasture, this church's beautiful architecture is enhanced by fascinating Romanesque sculpture inside and out.
Originally a Saxon minster, this large parish church dates primarily from the 12th century. It has an attractive 13th-century spire and interesting Romanesque decorations.
This large Franciscan church was almost completely destroyed by WWII bombs. The nave remains in ruins but the restored choir has its 13th-century stained glass windows of St. Francis and medieval artifacts.
This splendid Romanesque basilica outside the walls of Ávila marks the site of the martyrdom of St. Vincent by the Romans.
Filled with spectacular frescoes by Giotto, this church is Assisi's crowning glory. It is a place of pilgrimage for Francis devotees and art lovers alike.
This 13th-century church is the final resting place of St. Clare, the beloved friend of St. Francis and founder-abbess of the Order of the Poor Clares.
Officially named the Basilique Sacré-Coeur, this huge Art Deco basilica is the fifth-largest church in the world. It was begun in 1905 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence.
The holiest shrine in Latin America and most popular Catholic shrine in the world, this basilica houses a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary who appeared to an Aztec convert.
The Basilica of St. John was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century over the traditional tomb of John the Evangelist. The site became a major pilgrimage destination in the Early Middle Ages.
This Neo-Byzantine basilica stands on the site of the tomb of St. Martin of Tours. Next to it are two Romanesque towers and a Renaissance cloister from an earlier basilica.
This early Gothic basilica has an elegant choir with fine Renaissance woodcarvings. It was built on the site of a 4th-century necropolis and contains some ancient Christian sarcophagi.
Now an isolated ruin, this 5th-century Byzantine church was dedicated to the famous St. Sergius, a Roman soldier martyred c.303. The church was a major pilgrimage site in the Byzantine era.
Completed in 1969, this Catholic basilica stands on the traditional site where the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear the Savior. It is built over Crusader and Byzantine foundations.
This beautiful 12th-century basilica on Burg Square houses a very sacred relic - a vial said to contain the coagulated blood of Christ, collected at the crucifixion by Joseph of Arimathea.
Situated on top of the rock above the Grotto and behind the Basilica of the Rosary, this was the first basilica to be built in Lourdes. It was constructed between 1866 and 1872.
This grand church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception is an important Catholic shrine consecrated in 1959. Its architecture is a mix of Romanesque and Byzantine.
The lower of the two main basilicas at Lourdes, the Basilica of the Rosary was completed in 1901. Inside, mosaic panels illustrate each of the 15 mysteries.
Once a cathedral, this spectacular cream-colored edifice now serves as the parish church of Bath. The interior is famed for its glorious fan vaulting.
This elegant Flemish Baroque church originally served as the center for the beguines (lay sisters) who lived in houses clustered around it. Its facade is considered one of the most beautiful in Belgium.
This charming old church is well worth a visit for its Norman architecture and faded 13th-century murals of biblical scenes and saints.
Bonn's towering Romanesque basilica stands over an ancient shrine to the martyrs Cassius and Florentius.
All Saints Church, Brixworth is a Saxon church dating from the 7th century. It is the largest in England still standing from this period and has a number of interesting features.
This fine 12th-century church only became a cathedral in 1834. The tower was accordingly raised, in a sensitive Romanesque style, to surpass the nearby Church of Our Lady.
Among Petra's ancient temples is a Byzantine church dating from the 5th and 6th centuries. Still being excavated, Petra Church contains some extraordinary Byzantine mosaics.
Naxos Island has a remarkable abundance of Byzantine chapels, even by Greek island standards. Many of them contain exceptional frescoes from the 9th to the 15th centuries.
An elevated temple platform near the harbor in Caesarea was a place of worship for the Romans, Byzantines, Muslims and Crusaders.
Some scholars think this site, known as Khirbet Cana, is the Cana in which Jesus performed his first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding.
Part of a Franciscan church, the remarkable Chapel of Bones was lined with human bones and skulls in the 16th century as a reminder of immortality.
Located within the Norman Palace, the Palatine Chapel is the finest example of Arab-Norman art in Palermo. Built by Roger II from 1130 to 1140, it is adorned with extraordinary Byzantine mosaics.
This active Cistercian monastery southeast of Rome dates from the 13th century. Its austere church has delicate columns, vaulted ceilings, small stained-glass windows and a lovely cloister.
Founded in the early 12th century, this Norman church was served by ministers from Christ Church, Oxford. The well-preserved and well-restored church retains its single nave and many original Norman elements.
On the door of this church in 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses against the sale of indulgences - and launched the Reformation. The church contains the tombs of Luther, Melanchthon and Frederick the Wise.
Located on Gellert Hill overlooking Liberty Bridge is a unique grotto chapel of Hungarian Paulite monks. Closed during the Communist years and now reopened, it offers a peaceful respite from the city.
This lovely parish church was founded by Cerne Abbey around 1300 to provide the growing village of Cerne Abbas with a place of worship.
This Oxfordshire church is famed for its medieval frescoes dating from c.1330. Narrating the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary, the murals are one of the most complete sets in England.
Built in 1969 on the western outskirts of Rapid City, the Chapel in the Hills is a full-scale replica of the 12th-century Borgund Stave Church in Norway. It hosts evening worship services in the summer.
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.
Designed by Steven Holl, this magnificent Catholic chapel on the campus of Seattle University has won multiple awards for its unique modern architecture and masterful use of light.
A welcoming Catholic chapel with amazing views, especially at sunset, this is a special attraction for those seeking divine inspiration. It is also interesting for its unique modern architecture.
A collegiate church with fascinating Romanesque sculptures and a spectacular location in a medieval town overlooking a river.
The 15th-century parish church in Oxfordshire is notable for its impressive Gothic nave, funded by the lucrative Cotswolds wool trade. It also has a unique hexagonal porch featuring Green Men.
Located just outside Bournemouth in Dorset, Christchurch Priory is the longest parish church in England. Notable features include a carved Jesse Screen and the oldest misericords in England.
Built in the early 1900s by several different nations, this church stands over the traditional site where Jesus prayed on the night of his betrayal.
This Franciscan church marks the spot where Jesus wept over the future destruction of Jerusalem. There is a beautiful view of Temple Mount from here.
This is one of the oldest churches in Jerusalem as well as the site of the founding of the Knights of the Hospital of St. John, a.k.a. the Hospitallers.
The walls, an arch, and the baptismal pool remain intact at the Church of Mary, possibly the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the world and the site of the Council of Ephesus in 431.
Built from the 13th to 15th centuries, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk has a soaring spire that can be seen for miles around. And inside is a great treasure: the only sculpture by Michaelangelo outside Italy.
This Catholic church in a canal house of the Red Light District is the only surviving schuilkerken(clandestine church) that dates from the Reformation, when open Catholic worship was outlawed.
The official church of the university, St. Mary's has seen many historic sermons over the centuries and holds regular services today. Climb the tower for spectacular views of the city.
Built for the masons who worked on Salisbury Cathedral, this parish church is known for its unique and well-preserved medieval mural of the Last Judgment.
This Catholic church adjacent to the Nativity Church marks the appearance of Christ to St. Catherine of Alexandria, and may incorporate the monastery of St. Jerome.
The burial site of the original Santa Claus.
This great church was built by Constantine as the resting place of Byzantine emperors, several apostles, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian. Destroyed in the Crusades, its materials were used to build the Fatih Mosque.
This is a major Christian holy site that marks the traditional place of Christ's birth. It is also one of the oldest surviving Christian churches, commissioned by Emperor Constantine.
This lakeside Franciscan chapel stands on the traditional site where Jesus told Peter to "Feed my sheep" after the miraculous catch of fish and breakfast on the shore.
Built by Kaiser Wilhelm in 1898, this Romanesque-style Lutheran church on the Muristan has a tall tower with excellent views.
Built over the traditional home of John the Baptist's parents, this Franciscan church commemorates the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth when they were both pregnant.
Cirencester Parish Church is the largest parish church in Gloucestershire, funded by the thriving wool trade of the 13th century.
In this twin-towered Gothic church, Luther preached the Reformation, was married (1525) and baptized his six children. Inside, Cranach's huge Reformation Altar includes scenes of Christ and Luther.
In the Middle Ages, Cluny was the center of a major monastic movement. Its church was the largest Christian building in the world until St. Peter's was rebuilt in the 16th century.
Nestled high in the hills of southwest France, the picturesque little village of Conques is home to a magnificent Romanesque church and a golden medieval shrine.
A World Heritage Site, this fortified monastery offers some fascinating Templar history and the astounding stone carvings characteristic of Manueline architecture.
Home of the famous "Hour of Power" television program, this impressive modern church has walls made entirely of glass - in an earthquake-prone area of California.
Built in 1180, this attractive parish church has several fine Norman arches in the tower crossing and two porches.
This 11th-century Byzantine monastery and World Heritage Site is famed for the golden mosaics that cover its walls.
This church near Gloucester is a mix of English architectural styles from Saxon to Tudor. Notable features include a Saxon spiral-carved font, Saxon sculptures and medieval stained glass.
Originally built in 1708, the German Cathedral was completely destroyed by fire during World War II. The cathedral was rebuilt and reopened in 1996 as a museum of German history.
A small chapel on the Appian Way, this marks the spot where St. Peter, fleeing persecution, saw the risen Christ and asked, Domine quo vadis? ("Lord, where are you going?").
This small and charming cathedral in Reykjavik has hosted many historic events and is still used for state purposes.
Now an Anglican parish church, Dorchester Abbey was a cathedral founded by St. Birinus in 635 AD and later became an Augustinian abbey. The present building dates from the 12th to 14th centuries.
This important archaeological site has been called the Pompeii of the Syrian Desert. It was abandoned in the 3rd century and is home to the oldest surviving house-church and synagogue ever found.
Located about 30km west of Jerusalem, a Crusader church marks the traditional site where Jesus was not seen by two disciples after the Resurrection.
Called the "spiritual center of Central America" by Pope John Paul II, the Basilica of Esquipulas attracts many pilgrims to its miraculous statue of the Black Christ carved in 1595.
An exceptionally harmonious and well-preserved church in the Cotswolds. Funded by a wool merchant and consecrated in 1497, it boasts the most complete set of medieval glass remaining in Britain.
The Theotokos Church was built in 1292 and served as the headquarters of the Orthodox Patriarchate from 1456 to 1528. Five years later, it was converted into a mosque.
There are many "First Unitarian Churches" in the United States, but the one in Baltimore really deserves the name. It was here in 1819 that Unitarianism was first defined as a denomination.
Begun in 1163, Fossanova is considered a magnificent example of Cistercian architecture, reflecting that of Clairvaux.
Built in the 13th century over an earlier church, this small edifice next to the cathedral is interesting for its venerable age and mixture of styles. The semicircular choir features elaborate vaults and nine chapels.
The French Cathedral is the oldest of the two churches on Gendarmenmarkt square. It was built by the Huguenot (French Calvinist) community between 1701 and 1705.
Built in the 15th century, this wonderfully unique Gothic church is among the largest in southern Germany and a beloved landmark of Munich.
Built over an abbey church founded in 835, this 13th-century church is known for its elegant spire and Marc Chagall windows.
This beautifully simple stone church was built and used by local farmers of the area at an early date, estimates of which generally range from the 6th century to the 9th century.
Martin Luther was a choir boy at St. George's Church and later preached here 1521; Bach was baptized here in 1685.
This Carolingian oratory near Orléans was built in 806 by Bishop Theodulf, Charlemagne's adviser. Containing rare Byzantine mosaics, it is one of the oldest and most unique churches in France.
This ancient monastic settlement in a spectacular natural setting was founded by St. Kevin, a hermit monk (d.618). Its extensive ruins include several churches and a graceful round tower.
Cappadocia's most famous attraction, for good reason, is the Göreme Open Air Museum, a complex of medieval cave churches carved out and painted by Orthodox monks.
This archaeological site is best known for the Gortyn Code, a stone-inscribed law code from 500 BC. Also here are the ruins of several Roman temples and the 6th-century Basilica of St. Titus.
Standing atop a hill in the center of a Burgundian village, Gourdon Church has a pale-pink interior with restored Romanesque frescoes and carved capitals.
This splendid former priory church has a Norman nave, a huge collection of medieval tiles, a magnificent set of misericords, and lots of medieval stained glass.
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.
Set within peaceful grounds, the parish church in the Oxfordshire village of Great Milton is a 14th-century rebuild of a 12th-century Norman church.
Dedicated in 1620, Greyfriars Kirk was the first Reformed church in Edinburgh and the setting for a good bit of Scottish national history.
The unique and imposing Great Minster was built in 1090 by Charlemagne as a shrine to local martyrs. Later, Zwingli preached the Reformation from its pulpit.
The "Basilica of Holy Peace" dates from the 6th century and was transformed into the arsenal of the Topkapi Palace in the 1460s. Today, its excellent acoustics make it a popular venue for concerts.
This charming country chapel contains some magnificent 13th-century wall paintings of saints, coats of arms, and hunting scenes.
The tallest and most striking church in Iceland, the Lutheran cathedral of Reykjavik was completed in 1983. Its design is inspired by Iceland's glaciers.
The best-known Coptic church in Cairo is this church dedicated to the Virgin Mary and named for its elevated location. It dates mainly from the 10th century.
Since medieval times, the Santa Casa di Loreto has been believed to be the very home in which the Virgin Mary lived and raised the young Jesus. A large basilica was built around the small shrine, which attracts 4 million visitors each year.
Located on high ground, the cross-shaped Highlands Church was founded in the 14th century. Although emptied of its art by Calvinists, its elegant architecture and tombstones are worth seeing.
A modern Franciscan church with a glass floor stands over the ruins of the traditional House of St. Peter, where Jesus lived during his Galilee ministry, healed a paralytic and healed Peter's mother-in-law.
Built in 1170 and exceptionally well preserved, this is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in England. The west and south door are covered in zigzag decorations and figurative carvings.
Originally built in the 16th century, this church is notable for its intricately carved facade, one the finest examples of Baroque-Mestizo architecture in the Americas.
This squat, solid Romanesque church in southern Burgundy is notable for its 11th-century architecture and interesting sculptures, including a cyclops playing a pan-flute.
This 14th-century parish church is the oldest building in Pest. Built on the site of an earlier church and a Roman fortress, it still contains a mihrab from the Turkish occupation.
An impressive example of Manueline architecture, this spectacular monastery showcases the wealth that poured into Lisbon from the colonies during the Age of Discovery.
This unique church was built in 1428 by a rich pilgrim recently returned from Jerusalem. Modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, it includes a macabre altar and a replica of Christ's tomb.
Completed in 1963, Kópavogskirkja is a modern church in Kópavogur, the second-largest town in Iceland (30,000).
This 11th-century church (later a mosque and now a museum) contains one of the finest preserved galleries of Byzantine mosaics anywhere.
This little church is home to the finest collection of Romanesque sculpture in England, dating from 1140.
This Late Gothic chapel is famed for its fine architecture, its rare early 16th-century windows, exquisite fan vaulting, a Renaissance wooden screen, and Rubens altarpiece.
In 1879, the Virgin Mary, St. Joseph and St. John appeared at the parish church in Knock. Today, 1.5 million pilgrims visit the shrine each year.
Characterized by its striking red domes, this little Norman church was founded by Maio of Bari, chancellor to William I, in 1154. The interior was never finished, and has an austere medieval feel.
Dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, this church was originally designed as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's army.
Distinguished by an elegant Norman campanile, La Martorana dates from 1143 and is famed for its spectacular mosaics. Its official name is St. Mary of the Admiral.
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a magnificent basilica designed by celebrated Art Nouveau architect Antoni Gaudi. It remains unfinished, with estimated completion in 2026.
Lalibela is a sacred city for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians, and is home to 11 remarkable rock-carved churches dating from the 12th century.
The former Dominican monastery church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan is home to Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, one of the most famous paintings in the world.
This pretty 13th-century parish church was one of the first Gothic churches built in Germany. It stands right next door to the cathedral.
The Church of All Saints in Little Kimble, Buckinghamshire, is a pleasant little church with fragments of 14th-century wall paintings.
Known as the "Mother Church of American Methodism," Lovely Lane Methodist Church was founded in 1784 and rebuilt to an interesting Byzantine-Romanesque design in 1882.
Located 25km southwest of Amman, Madaba is famous for the many Byzantine mosaics uncovered here. The most famous is the 6th-century "Madaba Map" of the Holy Land in St. George's Church.
The surviving third of this once-great Benedictine abbey now functions as a parish church. The south door has wonderful Norman carvings.
Located on the Capitoline Hill above the Forum, this ancient prison is where St. Peter and Paul are said to have been held before their execution in Rome.
Picturesquely located on the wooded shores of a crater lake, this Benedictine abbey church is a beautiful and important example of German Romanesque architecture.
An attractive Protestant church on the east side of Berlin, St. Mary's Church houses a 15th-century fresco of "The Dance of Death" and other artworks.
Officially named the Church of Our Lady, this famous landmark in Budapest's Castle District is better known as Matthias Church after a beloved 15th-century king.
One of the most powerful women in western history, Galla Placidia was probably never buried here. The main attraction is the splendid mosaics dating from 430 AD.
Built in the 11th century and faithfully rebuilt after World War II, this is the finest example of Ottonian Romanesque architecture anywhere. Its painted wooden ceiling dates from 1230.
This tiny 12th-century church next to the cathedral is dedicated to the "Virgin Who Answers Prayers Quickly." The facade features a quirky patchwork of classical artifacts and medieval sculpture.
This Franciscan church founded in 1776 is the oldest building in San Francisco. Built and decorated by Native American converts, it has an interesting mix of native and Spanish styles.
Completed in 1100 AD, the cloister of Moissac Abbey in southwest France is one of the finest galleries of Romanesque art in the world. It is the oldest and largest cloister with narrative capitals.
This church was founded by Ferdinand and Isabella and it was where they originally planned to be buried. It includes an outstanding two-story cloister.
This impressive 19th-century church is known for having the third-largest dome in Europe and for having miraculously survived a German bomb in 1942.
This is the world headquarters of the Christian Science faith founded by Mary Baker Eddy. It includes two historic church buildings, dating from 1894 and 1906.
On a small hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, a modern octagonal church commemorates the Sermon on the Mount. The cool, pleasant gardens and sea view make this an ideal place for contemplation.
Emperor Haile Selassie founded this new Church of St. Mary of Zion next to the old one. It was completed in 1964. Unlike the original, the new St. Mary of Zion allows entrance to women.
A 12th-century Norman parish church with some Gothic additions at the east end. It has a large and attractive exterior, with a stout tower that once overlooked the harbor.
Constructed throughout most of the 13th century, this attractive church represents the period of transition between the Romanesque and Gothic styles. It contains the tombs of several Belgium notables.
This lovely Late Gothic church was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It has a four-fold gallery, bright stained glass windows, and a statue with an interesting history.
This ornate Neo-Byzantine church sits atop the signal hill of La Garde, the highest natural point in Marseille. As well as a major local landmark, the basilica is the focus of a popular annual pilgrimage on the Feast of the Assumption.
Built in the 1870s as an expression of the Church's power and wealth, this Neo-Byzantine basilica shares much in common, both historically and architecturally, with the Sacre-Coeur in Paris.
Built in the early 12th century, this beautiful Romanesque church has an apse decorated with multicolored stone, carved portals and capitals covered in sculptures.
This unique Romanesque-Byzantine church of the 11th and 12th centuries has one of the finest Romanesque faces in France, covered in a jumble of carvings of saints and biblical scenes.
Odda's Chapel was built in 1056 by Odda, a relative of King Edward the Confessor, in honor of his brother Aelfric. The Saxon masonry was hidden under plaster until the 20th 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.
Founded in 1723, Old North is the oldest church in Boston. It is best known for its steeple, which displayed the lanterns signaling the advance of the British troops - "one if by land, two if by sea."
Built in 1878, the pretty Old Scotch Church is one of the oldest churches in continuous use in Oregon. Its Carpenter Gothic design was probably inspired by the home church of its Scottish founders.
Built in the 16th century in gratitude for the Virgin Mary's intervention at the Battle of Lepanto (1571) against the Turks, this oratory features a magnificent stucco relief of the battle by Giacomo Serpotta.
Located alongside a canal in the Red Light District, the Oude Kerk is the oldest monument in Amsterdam, dating from 1250. Inside it features painted wooden ceilings, box pews and choir stalls with misericords.
Built 1885-90, this Roman Catholic church was funded by a ballet dancer. It honors the English Catholics who died during the Reformation, many of whom were members of the University of Cambridge.
Paestum's Basilica Paleocristiana is an early Christian cathedral dating from the 5th century. It has recently been restored to its original form, which uses materials from the ancient city.
An 11th-century Byzantine church with an attractive facade and an extensive cycle of frescoes in the dome.
This church was originally part of an abbey dedicated to St. Genevieve, but since the 18th century it has served primarily as a burial place for French heroes.
Founded in 1809 as a bastion of Trinitarian orthodoxy against the Unitarian movement, this Congregational church with a tall spire has played a major role in Boston's history and remains vibrant today.
The impressive "Black Gate" sight is a 2nd-century Roman city gate. It owes its survival to its use by a revered hermit monk and subsequent transformation into a two-story church.
Located about 100 miles north of Toulouse, Rocamadour is a spectacular natural and religious site perched high on a rocky plateau that receives 1.5 million visitors each year.
These striking hilltop ruins include a 12th-century royal chapel, cathedral and round tower, plus some fine high crosses in the churchyard.
This remarkable chapel south of Edinburgh is famous for its unique decorative art and its mysterious associations with the Knights Templar, the Holy Grail and the Freemasons.
A massive round building that was first a Roman temple, then a Christian church, then a mosque.
Officially named the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Round Church was built around 1130, making it one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge. It is one of only four medieval round churches in England.
Built in 1866 for the Russian Orthodox community of Geneva.
This attractive 15th-century church is worth a quick look for its fine Manueline architecture.
This 15th-century church overlooking a Roman temple has a number of interesting features, including 18th-century tiles and an Arabian cistern. The convent is has been transformed into a hotel.
Hiding behind a very plain facade is one of the city's richest interiors. The chapels are Baroque masterpieces; one is the world's most expensive chapel. Many relics are on display, including pieces of the crown of thorns and Jesus' crib.
Now the Royal Pantheon for the Portuguese monarchy, this church was originally part of a 12th-century convent. The current building dates from 1582-1627.
This 19th-century basilica and landmark is built over the place to which St. Denis is said to have carried his own head after his martyrdom.
The 12th-century Church of St. Reverianus in Burgundy was once a priory church affiliated with Cluny and a stop for pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. It has important Romanesque capitals in the choir and late medieval frescoes in the apse.
Famed for its stained glass, this beautiful 13th-century Gothic chapel was built by King Louis IX as a royal chapel to house important relics of Christ.
This Romanesque and Gothic church dates mostly from the 11th century, but is built over an ancient church. It contains the tomb of the city's patroness, Queen Radegunda, and some painted capitals.
A small village in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, San Andrés Xecul is home to a brightly-painted Catholic church adorned with a fascinating array of Mayan, Christian and agricultural images.
This lovely 12th-century basilica stands over two previous sacred buildings: a church built in 392 and a 2nd-century Mithraic cave temple.
An attractive 13th-century Romanesque church outside the old walls near the aqueduct. Inside are Romanesque frescoes.
This church and convent outside the city walls is where the crucifix spoke to St. Francis, prompting him to repair it and begin his ministry. Later, St. Clare lived and died here.
This huge, austere Dominican church dates from the 13th century. Inside, it displays much beautiful art as well as the head and finger of St. Catherine of Siena.
This 18th-century Franciscan church boasts the largest dome in Spain.
With its Arab-inspired bulbous red domes, this church is the most romantic building remaining from the heyday of Norman Palermo. It was built in 1132 on the grounds of a mosque.
Although much restored, this is one of the oldest monuments in Ravenna, dating from c.426-30 AD. Its chief attractions are its 5th-century architecture and 13th-century mosaics of the Crusades.
Also known as the Lateran Baptistery, this octagonal structure is the oldest baptistery in the world, built by Constantine in 315 AD.
Built in 1069, San Gregorio has an exterior made with Roman spoils and an interior with patches of Romanesque frescoes, unusual stone confessionals, and a little crypt.
Built in the 17th century, this Jesuit Baroque church contains the relics of Madrid's patron saint, San Isidro, and his wife, Santa María de la Cabeza.
This basilica was founded in the 4th century but the current building dates from the 1420s. Its stark brick exterior hides a magnificent interior by Brunelleschi and two bronze pulpits by Donatello.
This major pilgrimage basilica features a columned portico, 6th-century mosaic, catacombs, and lovely 12th-century cloister. It is dedicated to Lawrence, who was martyred by roasting on a gridiron.
Dating from the 4th century AD, this is the oldest church in Milan. It recalls the days when the city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. 16 ancient Roman columns line the front of the church.
Built between 1111 and 1124, this fine Romanesque church just outside the walls is one of the oldest churches in the city. It features a mozarab tower, open porticoes, figurative carvings and interior frescoes.
This hilltop church south of the Arno is the finest Romanesque church in Tuscany. It has a beautiful marble facade with inlaid Christian symbols and a fine view of the city.
Located near the cathedral, this is the oldest church in Madrid (13th century). Its bell tower is the oldest structure in the city (12th century) and may have been part of a mosque.
This spectacular major basilica shelters the bones of the Apostle Paul. It also boasts beautiful cloisters, a huge collection of artifacts discovered nearby, and a museum.
Madrid's second oldest church, San Pedro el Leal has an original Mudejar tower with a slight lean.
Reached by a shady 2km walk out of town, this medieval church is famed for its facade sculptures. Illustrating biblical stories and medieval themes, they are among the best Romanesque carvings in Umbria.
A church housing the venerated chains that held St. Peter while he was imprisoned in Rome before being freed by an angel.
This 12th-century church on the outskirts of town is dedicated to Spoleto's patron saint. It has a fine Romanesque facade and extensive medieval frescoes in the crypt.
Unlike the others in Spoleto,this church isn't Romanesque - it's Roman! It was built in the late 4th century in the style of Classical temples and is remarkably well-preserved.
Founded in 876, this church was dedicated to St. Satyrus, brother of St. Ambrose, and stands on the reputed site of his house. It was later remodeled by Bramante.
Built in 548 over the site of the martyrdom of St. Vitalis, this octagonal church contains some of the most celebrated mosaics in the West.
The church of "St. Paul of the Countryside" is the oldest church in Barcelona and a rare example of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia. Once surrounded by green fields, it is now in the city center.
Dedicated to a young woman martyred in 303 AD, this church was built by Constantine and rebuilt in the 7th century. It has a Byzantine apse mosaic and crowd-free catacombs.
Noted for its architecture, this basilica was consecrated by St. Ambrose in 387 AD. It became the model for all Lombard Romanesque churches.
Located in a Tuscan valley near Siena, this spectacularly beautiful abbey is a must-see. Gregorian chant can be heard from inside the elegant Romanesque church throughout the day.
Located a few miles out in the little suburb of Classe, Sant'Apollinare dates from the 6th century and contains fine Byzantine mosaics, especially in the apse.
Dedicated to St. Apollinarus (Ravenna's first bishop), this 6th-century basilica is known for its two rows of ancient biblical mosaics that stretch the length of the nave.
Built in the 12th century over a Lombard palace next to the Duomo, Sant'Eufemia is famed for its unique women's galleries above the nave. It is now part of the Museo Diocesano.
An impressive example of Sicilian Baroque, the 17th- and 18th-century interior of Santa Caterina overwhelms the senses with colors, textures, sculpture and marble inlay.
This church and active convent was built in the 9th century over the house of St. Cecilia, a 3rd-century martyr. It has a Byzantine apse mosaic upstairs and Roman excavations below.
This little round church was built c.360 AD to house the tombs of Constantine's daughter and sister. Its ceilings are covered in some of the earliest Christian mosaics in the world.
This is the principal Franciscan church of Florence, best known for its Florentine artwork and the tombs of illustrious dead such as Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli.
Too often overlooked by non-pilgrims, this basilica near St. John Lateran includes the private chapel of St. Helen (Constantine's mother) and displays impressive relics from the Holy Land.
This interesting basilica incorporates the remains of the extensive Baths of Diocletian. Inside are works of medieval and modern art and an astronomical gnomon.
This grand Baroque basilica houses the small Porziuncola, a chapel restored by St. Francis and the place where St. Clare took her vows, as well as the humble cell in which St. Francis died.
This barrel shaped church covered in marble slabs is a favorite among Venetians for weddings. Inside, the ceiling glistens with golden miniatures of holy figures.
Built in the 13th century, the Romanesque Santa Maria dei Servi has a fine campanile with four orders of windows. Inside are some famous frescoes and other notable artworks.
The beautiful Catalan-Gothic church of St. Mary of the Sea dates from the 1320s. Built to commemorate the conquest of Sardinia, it was intended to symbolize the maritime supremacy of the Kingdom of Aragon.
This 14th-century Catalan Gothic church stands at the heart of three picturesque little plazas. Named for a pine tree (pi in Catalan) that once stood nearby, it boasts a huge rose window.
A 15th-century church filled with Renaissance and Baroque art by masters such as Raphael, Caravaggio, and Bernini.
One of the most well known churches in Venice, this Baroque church at the entrance to the Grand Canal houses a precious Byzantine icon and works by Titian and Tintoretto.
A Franciscan church built in 1330, I Frari is best known for its masterpieces by Titian and other artists.
Best known for the "Mouth of Truth" in the porch, this is one of the most interesting churches in Rome, with important medieval art and an atmosphere of antiquity.
This church is held to be the first place of Christian worship in Rome, built where a fountain of oil sprung up on the day of Christ's birth. Inside are many excellent mosaics.
Built on the site of a miraculous snowfall, this major basilica dates from 420 AD. The huge church is lined with Byzantine mosaics and contains many important relics.
Said to be Rome's only Gothic church, this 13th-century basilica was built over a temple to Minerva. It contains many art treasures and the venerated tomb of St. Catherine of Siena.
This Baroque church incorporates the original classical facade of the Temple of Minerva, dating from the time of Christ.
A hidden gem near Santa Maria Maggiore, this 9th-century basilica has glorious Byzantine mosaics. Also here is a piece of the scourging column of Christ and other relics.
Santa Sabina is Rome's best surviving example of an early Christian church. It dates from 422, including its carved wooden doors with biblical scenes.
This ancient church in the Imperial Forum contains ruins of a Roman temple (overlooked through a glass wall in the back) and some wonderful early Christian mosaics in the apse.
Dedicated to St. Stephen, the first martyr, this is one of the largest and oldest round churches in existence. Dating from the 5th century, it reflects local and foreign influences.
The Shrine of Dom Bosco in Brasilia honors the Italian saint who dreamed of a utopian capital city in 1883. Brasilia is inspired by this dream. The shrine's interior is bathed in blue light.
Founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 12th century, the Basilica of St. Andoche is famed for its magnificent Romanesque capitals depicting biblical stories and medieval scenes.
Founded by Irish missionaries, this Romanesque church is famed for its fascinating sculptured portal.
The pretty little Gothic chapel of the Holy Trinity in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutna Hora, is built over an ossuary that is decorated with more than 40,000 artfully arranged human skeletons.
This church, now completely destroyed, was built in the late 400s in Antioch's port city of Seleucia Pieria. Many interesting examples of early Christian art were discovered here.
Serjilla (also spelled Sarjella) gets Lonely Planet's vote as the "most eerie and evocative" of the Dead Cities of northern Syria. It also has the greatest number of semi-complete buildings.
Located next door to the cathedral, this church has a distinctive triple-towered east end and a celebrated monumental tomb by the Master of St. Severus.
Located in the pretty town of Sherborne in Dorset, this is a grand parish church that is considered one of the best examples of Perpendicular architecture in Britain. It is especially noted for its fine fan vaulting and medieval carvings.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima is one of most famous Marian shrines in the world. Some 4 million people visit each year, drawn by visions of the Virgin Mary reported by shepherd children in 1917.
Located in southern Italy, this is the second-most visited Catholic shrine in the world. It centers on the tomb of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a Capuchin friar, priest and mystic known for his devotion, miracles and stigmata.
This Catholic shrine consists of a series of chapels built on the site of St. Catherine of Siena's family home, where she was born and lived much of her remarkable life.
This Catholic shrine is dedicated the first American-born saint, an Episcopalian convert who was canonized in 1975.
This world-famous chapel painted by Michelangelo is still used for papal elections. Explore a complete photo gallery of its art as part of our article on the Sistine Chapel.
The Church of St. James in South Leigh, Oxfordshire, mostly dates from the 15th century. It is notable for its beautiful 15th-century wall paintings depicting the Last Judgment, saints, and other themes.
The Castle Church of Spiez is an atmospheric 10th-century church on the shores of Lake Thun. Inside are faded medieval frescoes.
Founded in 1123 as a priory church, Great St. Bart's is one of the oldest churches in London and has appeared in several films. Today it is an active Anglican church known for its choral services.
Dubbed the "Church of the Press" due to its location on Fleet Street, this London landmark with a wedding-cake tower was designed by Christopher Wren.
This historic church in Edinburgh has a friendly congregation that emphasizes Celtic spirituality.
This 12th-century parish church just north of Oxford's city center was consecrated by St. Hugh of Lincoln.
In this old church in the Barbican, Oliver Cromwell married Elizabeth Bourchier (1620) and the poet John Milton was buried (1674).
A lovely 15th-century church on the harbor of the popular seaside resort of St. Ives in Cornwall. Inside are many charming carvings in granite and wood.
This parish church is named for the Norman arches of its nave, which are rare survivals in Devon. It contains monuments of Exeter's mayors from the Middle Ages.
St Mary Redcliffe is a grand Anglican parish church that is often mistaken for a cathedral. It is the second-largest parish church in England and the tallest building in Bristol.
St Mary Steps is a Late Gothic parish church with some Norman remains. Located just inside the Roman city wall near the old west gate, it is best known for the interesting old clock on its tower.
Built from 1478 to 1519, Great St. Mary's (as it is also called) is the primary parish church of Cambridge as well as the university church. It played a significant role in English Reformation history.
This parish church has the oldest building in Oxford (1040) and some of the oldest stained glass windows in England (1290). Thomas Cranmer was imprisoned here before his martyrdom.
The parish church of St Nicholas, patron saint of sailors and merchants, was built in 1190 and expanded in the 15th century. Its tall tower has a truncated spire and a noticeable lean.
This 12th-century church is now the library for St Edmund Hall. It is surrounded by an ancient churchyard with grand old trees.
This attractive 19th-century parish church now houses the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. The interior is not accessible without an appointment.
The most fashionable church in 19th-century Paris, this basilica dedicated to a saintly French queen is best known for its imposing twin spires.
The imposing Basilique St-Denis is notable for its early Gothic architecture and its history as a burial site of French monarchs.
This church stands on the site of an abbey founded by Clovis and dedicated to Geneviève, the patroness of Paris. It still receives pilgrims today.
Located next to the Abbaye aux Hommes are the handsome ruins of Old St-Etienne, a large church destroyed in World War II.
When the Louvre was still a royal palace, this was its church. It accordingly drew an assortment of royalty, courtesans, men of art and law, and local artisans.
Built to house a relic of the True Cross brought from Spain in 542, this church was so powerful in the Middle Ages that it became a town within the town.
Built in the 11th century, the pilgrimage church of St-Hilaire has a fine apse surrounded by chapels, wall paintings in the choir and several carved capitals.
This modest church marks the burial place of the early Christian leader St. Irenaeus (125-202), Bishop of Lyon. His tomb was destroyed in the Reformation, but the crypt can still be seen.
This 11th-century church on the north side of town originally belonged to a Benedictine monastery. The exterior features a Romanesque apse topped with a Gothic chancel and flying buttresses.
Just across this street from the cathedral and surrounded by half-timbered buildings is this fine Gothic church, rebuilt 1437-1521. It is best known for its finely carved wooden doors from the 16th century.
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.
Originally the church of a Benedictine abbey, St-Ouen is larger than the cathedral and more harmonious in its Gothic architecture. Joan of Arc was sentenced to death in its cemetery in 1431.
St-Philibert is a Carolingian church dating from 814-39. It was a monastery and pilgrimage site until 858, when it was sacked by the Vikings. The sarcophagus of St. Philibert (839) can still be seen in the crypt.
St. Peter's Church in Caen is a splendid example of the transition between Gothic and Renaissance forms. Built in the 13th and 14th centuries, it was expanded in the early 16th century.
One of the oldest churches in Paris, the Romanesque St-Pierre-de-Montmartre was consecrated in 1147. Inside are 7th-century capitals and an early ribbed vault.
Dedicated to a 6th-century abbot from Poitiers, the Church of St. Porchaire is a Carolingian foundation with a Romanesque tower and Late Gothic interior.
This huge - at one time the largest in Paris - Late Baroque church is located in the fashionable neighborhood of Saint-Sulpice.
A former cathedral, St-Trophime is notable for its elaborately carved Romanesque portal depicting the Last Judgment and its two-story cloisters.
Founded in 1321 by Carmelite monks, this fine Gothic church went on play a role in the history of the Reformation. It is notable for its fine works of art and its Luther museum.
Dating from around 1200, St. Audoen's is the only medieval parish church still in use within the city of Dublin. It offers excavated ruins, a visitor's centre and a section used as an active parish church.
Built in 1130-60 as a house for noble canonesses, it later became an Augustinian convent. Today the church shelters the Schnütgen Museum, an excellent collection of medieval religious art.
The Church of St. George (Mari Girgis) in Coptic Cairo is the primary Greek Orthodox church of Egypt. Originally built in the 10th century, it stands atop an old Roman tower and adjoins a monastery.
Built in the 11th and 13th centuries, St. Gereon has an unusual decagonal-shaped nave topped with a great dome. It houses numerous medieval murals, rare Romanesque mosaics, and the tomb of St. Gereon.
Dubbed the "Presidents' Church," this historic Episcopalian church is located next to the White House. Since 1816 every president has attended a service here, including Obama on Inauguration Day.
Built over the site of a Roman temple, the plan of the 11th-century church echoes that of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The Église Sainte-Marie is a large Byzantine-style Catholic church near the Royal Palace. Now located in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood, it is mainly used for concerts and ecumenical functions.
This tiny pink church on the Residenzplatz is the oldest church in Salzburg, dating from around 800 AD or earlier.
Originally founded by the Danes in 1075, this 17th-century parish church has some fine woodwork and a burial vault with well-preserved corpses on display.
Houses huddle cozily on the sides of this 11th-century Romanesque church with a 14th-century Gothic facade. A cannonball fired by the French in 1695 is still lodged in one of its pillars.
This small chapel ruin is picturesquely located in a field above St. Non's Bay on the Welsh coast. It is said to mark the site where St. Non gave birth to St. David around 500 AD.
St. Pantaleon is one of the oldest of the Romanesque churches in Cologne. Dedicated to a Greek martyr and built over the ruins of a Roman villa, the present building dates from the 10th century.
The beautiful St. Paul's Church in Rabat stands above a grotto where the Apostle Paul is said to have taken refuge after his shipwreck on Malta.
Here Martin Luther was baptized on November 11, 1483. The church contains two fine Gothic altarpieces.
For Roman Catholics, St. Peter's is the most sacred site after the Holy Land. It centers around the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle and is one of the largest churches in the world.
St. Peter's is the oldest church in Zürich and boasts the largest clock face in Europe.
Named for Hungary's first Christian king, this is the largest church in Hungary. Inside, the Chapel of the Holy Right contains Hungary's most prized sacred relic: Stephen's right hand.
These two churches form the most attractive ecclesiastical compound in Augsburg. Constructed around 1500 over a Roman temple, one is Catholic and the other is Protestant.
Commissioned by Justinian in the first year of his reign (527), this was an important stage in the development of Byzantine architecture. It is now a mosque known as the "Little Hagia Sophia."
This 12th-century Norman church, known for its rare round shape and its role in The Da Vinci Code, was built by the Knights Templar and contains several fascinating details.
Completed in 1969, this is a spectacular underground church built into a massive block of natural granite. it is an active church and a popular venue for classical concerts.
Built in the early 1100s, this abbey church boasts the largest Norman tower in Europe. Its interior is a breathtaking combination of stout Norman pillars with Decorated Gothic vaulting and gilded bosses.
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in the village of Thame, Oxfordshire, is a large parish church built in the 13th century. It has a number of interesting features, including a wall painting, tombs and monuments, and several gargoyles and corbels.
A Crusader church and atmospheric Byzantine crypt shelters this ancient tomb said to be that of the Virgin Mary.
This riverside Burgundian church has a 10th-century crypt, a tall nave with an unusual vault, carved capitals, an important Romanesque Madonna and newly-discovered 12th-century mosaics of the zodiac.
This Wall Street church features Neo-Gothic flying buttresses, stained-glass windows and ancient churchyard. It withstood 9/11 and appeared in the movie National Treasure.
This striking church overlooking Copley Square is a fine example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. Completed in 1877, the Episcopalian church provides daily guided tours.
This important archaeological site was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004. Its structures date from the 3rd to 9th centuries and most have not yet been excavated, but magnificent Byzantine mosaics have been uncovered in two churches.
This groundbreaking, concrete Unitarian church was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1909, and is considered one of his great masterpieces.
The oldest and most richly decorated of Norway's 29 stave churches, Urnes also boasts a picturesque fjordside location.
Famed for its Romanesque sculpture, this 12th-century basilica is the largest Romanesque church in France. It attracted many pilgrims due to its relics of Mary Magdalene.
This sparkling white basilica is home to a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary made by an Inca craftsman in 1576. The patron saint of Bolivia, the Virgin of Copacabana receives many pilgrims and festivals in her honor.
This historical site includes John Wesley's 18th-century chapel, house and tomb, plus the interesting Museum of Methodism. The chapel is still a thriving place of worship.
The first Methodist chapel in the country, the New Room was built by John Wesley in 1739. The design is attractive in its simplicity and features the double pulpit from which Wesley preached.
This former abbey church is the national church of Britain, used for coronations and filled with important tombs and monuments.
The fortress-like exterior of St Mary's Church shelters a charming hodge-podge of box pews, galleries and nautical woodwork from the North Sea weather. And it was featured in Dracula.
The Church of the Pantocrator, now a mosque named Zeyrek Camii, is one of the most important landmarks of the Byzantine period. Today it is in a state of neglect.
