Architecture and religion: the most beautiful churches in the world

Architecture and religion: the most beautiful churches in the world

Story by Stars Insider  • 3mo

 

 

Churches are places where people usually go to find peace or spiritual guidance, as well as comfort when confronting challenges in life. However, aside from religious reasons, these places of worship are true works of art when analyzed from an architectural perspective.

Whether gothic, baroque, or modern in design, these structures are impressively imposing and richly detailed, captivating specialists and drawing in countless tourists every year.

To see some of the most beautiful churches in the world, take a look at the gallery and be amazed by these fantastic feats of architecture.

 

Sagrada Família – Barcelona - Spain

©Getty Images

 

This architectural project was designed by Antoni Gaudi, and still hasn't been finished. The cathedral is one of the most visited tourist spots in Spain...

 

 

Saint Basil's Cathedral – Moscow - Russia

©Getty Images

 

Saint Basil's Cathedral was built in the 16th century and it took more than ten years for construction to be completed. It's one of the symbols of the Russian capital. ..

 

Notre-Dame – Paris - France

©Getty Images

 

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is one of the oldest gothic cathedrals in the whole of France. It was built in the Middle Ages and attracts thousands of visitors every year...

 

 

 Saint Peter's Basilica – Rome - Italy

©Getty Images

 

The largest and most important Roman Catholic church in the world, Saint Peter's Basilica is also visited by many Christians of other denominations from all over the world...

 

 

St Paul's Cathedral – London - England

©Getty Images

St Paul's Cathedral is one of the main tourist attractions in London. It was built in the same location of the first church ever built in England, in 604 AD...

 

 

Florence Cathedral – Florence - Italy

©Getty Images

 

It's the fifth biggest church in Europe and adds to the already beautiful Italian city of Florence...

 

Milan Cathedral – Milan - Italy

©Getty Images

 

At 515 ft (157 m) long and 357 ft (109 m) wide, the gothic church was designed by the geniuses Leonardo Da Vinci and Donato Bramante...

 

The Basilica of the National Vow – Quito - Ecuador

©Getty Images

Construction on the church in the capital of Ecuador began in 1883 and was finished in 1924. With its neo-gothic style, the building is one of the principal tourists attractions in Quito...

 

 

St Patrick's Cathedral – New York - United States

©Getty Images

 

With neo-gothic towers and its richly decorated interior, it is the biggest Catholic church in the United States, and receives thousands of visitors every day...

 

Notre-Dame Basilica – Montreal - Canada

©Getty Images

This religious temple has a stunning grey neo-gothic facade with two symmetrical towers. The building is a must-see for any visit to Canada...

 

São Francisco Church - Salvador - Brazil

©Getty Images

 

Decorated lavishly in gold, this church in the Bahian capital is a fantastic example of baroque architecture in Brazil which has stood the test of time...

St. Michael of the Needle Chapel - Le Puy-en-Velay - France

©Shutterstock

 

Dedicated to the archangel St Michael, this Catholic chapel in France was built out of stone on a mountain 272 ft (83 m) high.

Hallgrímskirkja - Reykjavík - Iceland

©Getty Images

At 244 ft (74.5 m) high, Hallgrímskirkja church is the tallest in Iceland. The design was inspired by the lava from a volcano...

Las Lajas Sanctuary - Ipiales - Colombia

©Getty Images

This is a destination for pilgrims from all over the world who come to see the church's majestic grey and white gothic architecture...

Wieskirche - Baviera - Germany

©Shutterstock

At the foot of the Bavarian alps, Wieskirche is a UNESCO world heritage site. The inside boasts an opulent rococo style architecture which enthralls visitors.

The Church of the Transfiguration - Kizhi - Russia

©Getty Images

 

The Church of the Transfiguration is around 120 ft (37 m) high, making it one of the tallest in the world...

Borgund stavekirke - Borgund - Norway

 

©Shutterstock

 

Made out of wood, the church was probably built in the 12th century, and its structure hasn't been changed since.

Cologne Cathedral - Cologne- Germany

©Shutterstock

 

The cathedral of Cologne holds relics purportedly connected to the Three Wise Men. It is also one of the biggest in the world, with construction taking almost 600 years to complete.

Seville Cathedral - Seville- Spain

©Getty Images

 

It's the largest church in Spain and the third largest in the world, after St Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady Aparecida, in Aparecida, Brazil...

St Mark's Basilica - Venice - Italy

©Shutterstock

 

St Mark's Basilica is the most famous of all the churches in Venice, and is one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture in world.

Salisbury Cathedral- Salisbury - England

©Getty Images

 

This Anglican cathedral is one of the best examples of early English architecture. At 404 ft (123 m) high, it took 38 years to complete...

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral - Mexico

©Getty Images

 

It's one of the oldest Roman Catholic cathedrals on the continent, and it took more than 200 years for construction to be completed...

Lima Cathedral - Lima - Peru

©Getty Images

Its quadrangular design is in the neoclassical style of the 17th century. The Lima Cathedral is a UNESCO world heritage site.

 

 

******************************************************************************************************************************************

Christ Church Cathedral

 

 

Cathedral Church of Christ (Anglican)

100 Cathedral Square, CHRISTCHURCH

 

From its establishment in 1848,

the Canterbury Association planned to make their settlement in Christchurch wholly Anglican. 

all of which were finished by 1904.

 

Christchurch, known for its English heritage, is located on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christchurch Cathedral on the day of the earthquake 

Christchurch earthquake: no bodies found in cathedral

New Zealand landmark to be partially demolished to make safe structure in city where 185 people died in February's earthquake, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake  on Tuesday 22 February 2011,  destroying up to 30,000 houses.

 

The Anglican cathedral, designed in George Gilbert Scott's distinctive Gothic style, will be deconsecrated

 

Proposed reinstatement

On 22 August 2018, an agreement was signed that established a company, Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited, to reinstate the cathedral. Physical works include a combination of repair, restoration and seismic strengthening. 

* seismic  [sáizmik, -məl]  ~ the seismic center[focus]

 

The Cardboard Cathedral, formally called the Transitional Cathedral, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is the transitional pro-cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch, replacing ChristChurch Cathedral, which was significantly damaged in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The Cardboard Cathedral was designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and opened in August 2013. It is located on the site of the former St John the Baptist Church on the corner of Hereford and Madras Streets in Latimer Square, several blocks from the permanent location of ChristChurch Cathedral.