I am always amazed at how the world’s religions construct and adorn their places of worship. These photos show a range from the simple and humble to the enormous and gorgeous. And some of them have stood for thousands of years.
I am always amazed at how the world’s religions construct and adorn their places of worship. These photos show a range from the simple and humble to the enormous and gorgeous. And some of them have stood for thousands of years.
José de San Martín was the great Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru. While in exile, he died in northern France in 1850 at the age of 72. Thirty years later, as specified in his will, his remains were sent to Buenos Aires. San Martín was laid to rest in the right aisle of the Metropolitan Cathedral. The stunning mausoleum was designed by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. The three female sculptures are allegories for the countries he freed. Also here is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Independence.
San Martín 27, C1004, CABA, Argentina
A beautiful feature of St. John’s Cathedral in Brisbane, Australia, is the external stones: they are brown, pink and mauve with small crystals that make them sparkle. This Anglican Cathedral was designed in 1885 but its third phase of construction did not end until 2008 when the copper clad spires were erected. The cathedral has the largest pipe organ in Australia. The 12 bells that rotate 360° in the central tower date back to 1876.
411 Ann St, Brisbane City QLD 4000, Australia
The buildings at Port Arthur lacked aesthetic appeal with one exception: The Church. Construction of this Neo-gothic design by convict architect Henry Laing began in 1835 with inmate labor and by juveniles incarcerated at Point Puer. It was finished in 1837 but never consecrated by a religious denomination. All 1,000 plus prisoners were required to attend Sunday services. The Church was gutted by fire in 1884. However, the lancet windows and spectacular tower with conical spires attest to its former beauty. During construction, William Riley murdered fellow inmate Joseph Shuttleworth with a pickaxe. Their ghosts are said to still haunt The Church.
6973 Arthur Highway, Port Arthur, TAS 7182, Australia
Despite his arrival in Sydney in 1814 as a convict for forgery, Englishman Francis Greenway was appointed by Governor Lachlan Macquarie as the Civil Architect for New South Wales. One of his several commissions was to design a courthouse that quickly was refocused to become St James’ Church serving the Anglican Church of Australia. Construction of the Georgian structure began in 1819 using convict labor and was consecrated in 1824. The namesake is James the Great, one of the Twelve Apostles. Interestingly, both the architect and the church’s spire have been featured on Australian currency.
173 King St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
At this site on February 18, 1853, Emperor Franz Joseph I was stabbed in the neck. To give thanks for the failed assassination attempt, donations poured in from around Europe to build a church as a votive offering. The lacelike Gothic design of Votivkirche was created by Heinrich von Ferstel. He was one of the most influential architects in Vienna during the mid-19th century. Votive Church was consecrated in 1879 in time for the silver wedding jubilee of Franz Joseph and his wife Empress Elisabeth. The twin towers of this Roman Catholic church soar an impressive 325 feet.
Rooseveltplatz, 1090 Wien, Austria
The most beautiful architectural surprise in Nassau is The Cloisters. This was part of a 12th century monastery for Augustinian monks from Montréjeau, a small village in southwestern France near Spain’s border. In the 1920s, this lovely colonnade was purchased by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. In the early 1960s, Huntington Hartford acquired it as part of his development of Paradise Island. The reassembly across from Versailles Gardens was a two year project skillfully performed by J. J. Castremanne and finished in 1968. In the center is a white statue named Silence.
The Cloister, Paradise Island Dr, The Bahamas
A classic feature of Gothic architecture for cathedrals is a large rose window filled with intricate and colorful stained glass. Architect George Maunier did a masterful job of creating a beautiful example inside St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Fortaleza, Brazil. In the center is the image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Notice the heart is pierced by swords. These represent the Seven Sorrows (or Dolors) of Mary. Surrounding her are equally gorgeous images of angels.
Praça da Sé, s/n - Centro, Fortaleza - CE, 60055-150, Brazil
A very large stone Buddha statue sitting on a lotus is the centerpiece of a humble temple in the northcentral section of Angkor Thom. Compared to the other magnificent monuments, Tep Pranam seems insignificant. Yet historically it may be one of the most important, along with the temple Phnom Bakheng. It was commissioned by Yasovarman I in the late 9th century. This is when the Angkorian king moved the capital to Yaśodharapura. This became the foundation of all the temples and cities built at Angkor for the next six hundred years.
Angkor Thom, Angkor, Cambodia
Mankind has spent so much money building elaborate places of worship that it’s refreshing to see a humble one like Saint-Michael and All Angels in Lac-Brome, Quebec Providence, Canada. This Anglican church, with its simple bell tower and peeling paint, was built in 1893 and stands alone in the countryside. In contrast, nearby Knowlton is a haven for seasonal residents and their multi-million dollar homes.
Chemin d'Iron Hill, Lac-Brome, QC J2L 3E3, Canada
Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (originally called St. James Cathedral) was patterned after Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome yet is one-fourth the size. The Roman Catholic minor basilica was finished in 1894 and reconstructed in 2005. The interior is richly adorned and gorgeous. The cupola above the altar is the crowning achievement. The transepts are decorated with paintings depicting key events in Montreal’s history. Admission is free.
1085 Rue de la Cathédrale, Montreal, QC H3B 5J8, Canada
Over 11 million people annually visit Notre-Dame Basilica. You can always expect a long line of tourists eager to go in. Is it worth the wait? Absolutely! The interior is among the most spectacular in the world. The ribbed canopy features stars against a blue-green field. The ceiling is pierced by huge Gothic arches. Bold painted columns define two levels of balconies. An abundance of wooden sculptures and stained-glass windows accent the nave and sanctuary. The intricate pulpit (left) with a spiral staircase stands an impressive 46 feet. The altarpiece features the Crucifixion plus four Old Testament scenes. In short, you will be awed. For a special treat, attend an evening performance of Aura. The 45 minute music and light show by Moment Factory is phenomenal.
110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 2V5, Canada
Duck your head as you enter the Living Water Wayside Chapel. The 72 square foot interior is barely enough room for six worshippers or curious tourists. This quaint, dollhouse-like structure is the smallest chapel in the world. It was built by the Niagara Falls Christian Reformed Church in 1964 and relocated along the Niagara Parkway in 2012.
15796 Niagara Pkwy, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
Samuel de Champlain, the city’s founder, had a chapel built here in 1633. It was replaced 14 years later by Notre-Dame de la Paix, the first stone church in colonial Québec. In 1674, it became a cathedral. After the building was destroyed by the British in 1759, the current Neoclassical-style church opened in 1843. In 1984, Pope John II gave Our Lady of Québec City the status of a minor basilica. This was the first one in North America. Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral is a National Historic Site of Canada.
16 Rue De Buade, Québec, QC G1R 4A1, Canada
St. Andrew’s Cathedral has an impressive, High Victorian Gothic design crowned by a 175 foot spire. The Roman Catholic church was dedicated in 1892. The elaborate rose window above the entrance is the first of about 100 stained-glass windows inside. They portray events of Christ plus various saints including Saint Andrew, an Apostle and the brother of Simon Peter. This is the third cathedral to be built for the Diocese of Victoria since it was founded in 1846.
1202 Blanshard Street, Victoria, BC V8W, Canada
The five onion domes of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral are a distinctive architectural feature along Main Street in Winnipeg. The vision for the church began in 1945. This stunning building was consecrated in 1962. The mosaic of the Holy Trinity surrounded by angels and saints was added in 1988 in celebration of the Millennium of the Ukrainian Orthodoxy.
1175 Main St, Winnipeg, MB R2W 3S4, Canada
When the San Francisco Church was built in 1622 it became Chile’s first Catholic church. It replaced a chapel commissioned in the mid-16th century by Pedro de Valdivia, the Spanish founder of Santiago. This classic bell and clock tower was rebuilt in 1857 after the previous two were destroyed by earthquakes.
Av Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 804, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
Beihai Park is a 600 year old, 168 acre imperial garden in Beijing, China. Surrounding its lake are elaborate temples and pavilions. Next to the White Dagoba on Jade Island is the ShanYin Pavilion. Also called the Pavilion of the Benevolent Voice, this square building with a cone-shaped roof is adorned with 445 glazed tiles of a reposing Buddha.
1 Wenjin St, Xicheng Qu, China, 100034
The quintessential wooden structure at the Temple of Heaven is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. This stunning beamless Qinian Hall has three tiers pronounced with eaves. It is crowned with a conical, blue tile roof accented with a gilded orb reaching 125 feet. The 105 foot diameter is elevated on a 20 foot high, white marble base called the Altar for Grain Prayers. Qinian Hall is also surrounded by multi-level railings. Since it was built in 1420, two venerated ceremonies by the emperor were performed here each year. The ritual at the first lunar month was a prayer for a good harvest. In the summer was a religious request for adequate rain. Behind this is another exquisite structure: Imperial Hall of Heaven.
South Gate, Yongdingmen East St. & Jintai Rd., Dongcheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China
The biggest place of Muslim worship in China is the Great Mosque of Xi’an. Other names are the Huajue Mosque or the East Great Mosque. This is the heart of the Muslim Quarter. There are 25 structures within three acres. The complex is shaped as a long rectangle aligned east to west. The architecture is a unique blend of Islamic and Chinese. This 29.5 foot gateway welcomes you to the first courtyard. The wooden paifang with glazed tiles was constructed in the 17th century during the Qing dynasty. Below is a carving of dragons playing with a pearl. They represent God and the emperor plus are a symbol of good luck.
Great Mosque, Huajue Alley, Zhong Lou Shang Quan, Lianhu Qu, Xian Shi, Shaanxi Sheng, China, 710001
Construction of the Cathedral of Cartagena began in 1577. The church was partially destroyed during an attack by Sir Frances Drake nine years later. La Catedral was finished in 1612. This Roman Catholic church is dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria. St. Catherine was martyred for her unrelenting Christian faith early in the 4th century by Roman Emperor Maxentius.
Cra. 4 #1434 Soacha, Cartagena, Cundinamarca, Colombia
The Katedrala Svetog Duje’s high altar is spectacular. Built in 1767 by Giovanni Morlaiter, it is crowned by a semi-dome with paintings by Matej Pončun. On either side are two large gilded angels suspending a regulatory. The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Domnius. He was the Bishop of Salona when he was beheaded at the command of Diocletian in 304 AD. Ironically, the relics of Split’s patron saint are now in the mausoleum built in 305 AD for the Roman emperor who ordered his death. Conversely, Diocletian’s remains have disappeared.
Ul. Kraj Svetog Duje 5, 21000, Split, Croatia
In 1591, the Franciscans built their first church in Havana. After it was destroyed by three storms in the late 17th century, the current Basilica de San Francisco was finished in 1716. About 15 years later, the Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco de Asís was established. The British used this as a place of Protestant worship during their occupation of Cuba in 1762. After their exile, the building was never used as a church again. Today, the property is a concert hall and the adjoining monastery is a museum of religious art. The three-tier, 140 foot bell tower overlooks the south end of Plaza de San Francisco. In the foreground is a white, Carrara marble fountain. Fuente de los Leones (Fountain of the Lions) was sculpted by Giuseppe Gaggini and installed in the square in 1836.
154 Oficios, La Habana, Cuba
Fidel Castro signed his first agreement with the Soviet Union in 1960. When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, the Cuban government relationship with Russia suffered. That diplomatic bond improved when Vladimir Putin first became Prime Minister in 1999. A few years later, Castro offered to build a Russian Orthodox Church in Havana in appreciation for decades of friendship. In 2008, Our Lady of Kazan Orthodox Cathedral was consecrated. In the sunshine, the golden cupola on this Byzantine design by architect Alexey Vorontsov shines as brightly as the 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury convertible parked in front.
Avenida San Pedro and Santa Clara Street, La Habana, Cuba
St. Vitus Cathedral is the country’s largest and most impressive religious structure. Its origin dates back to the first church built on this site in 930. It was replaced in 1060. The current structure began in 1344 and became the passion of Charles IV during his reign from 1346 until 1378 while the King of the Romans and Bohemia. Much of its Gothic design is attributed to Matthias of Arras. When he died, the massive project was assigned to 23 year old Petr Parléř, the same architect entrusted to build the Charles Bridge and Old Town Bridge Tower plus layout the New Town of Prague. Progress stopped during the Hussite Wars (1419 – 1434) and would not resume for over 400 years. These twin towers were among the last features to be added. In 1929, the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral was declared finished – 585 years after it began.
Hrad III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia
The first chapel for the Danish royal family was built in 1745. After being nearly destroyed by fire in 1794, it was restored into this Neoclassical style and consecrated in 1826. The chapel burned again in 1992 and inaugurated in 1997. For centuries, the Christiansborg Palace Chapel has been the venue for weddings, confirmations, baptisms and funerals for the monarchs and their families.
Prins Jørgens Gård 4 1218 København K, Denmark
When Canute IV of Denmark was murdered in 1086 by a revolting crowd of peasants, a church was constructed on this site for the burial of the Viking king. He was canonized as a saint in 1101. After that church burned in 1247, it took more than two hundred years to construct the current St. Canute’s Cathedral. It was finally finished in 1499. Saint Canute’s crypt is located within one of the Odense Domkirke’s chapels.
Klosterbakken 2, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
From 1958 until 1983, Charles Bluhdorn was the founder and president of Gulf & Western, a Fortune 500 conglomerate. One of his passions was the Dominican Republic. In 1967, he purchased a local sugarcane company and began building Casa de Campo, his dream mega-resort. Among his inspirations was recreating a 16th century Mediterranean village on the property. He chose Roberto Copa to be the co-architect. Copa was a senior set designer for Paramount Studios, one of Bluhdorn’s subsidiaries. When Altos de Chavón opened in 1982, the results were magical. Flanking the cobblestone streets are restaurants, shops and galleries. They are tucked inside 16th century architecture reproductions crafted from coral blocks. In the center is St. Stanislaus Church. Its namesake is the 11th century bishop of Kraków and the patron saint of Poland. Iglesia San Estanislao de Cracovia is not a prop. The church was consecrated by Pope John II in 1979 and conducts masses on the weekends.
Casa de Campo, Carr La Romana - Higüey, La Romana 22000, Dominican Republic
In 1824, Haiti’s president offered liberated African-American slaves from Philadelphia free transportation and land in Hispaniola in exchange for farming. Nearly 6,000 immigrants made the trip. About 200 of them arrived in Samaná aboard the Turtle Dove in 1825. By 1871, their numbers reached 600. A decade later, they built this humble wooden church. It was manufactured in England and served the Wesleyan (Anglican) faith. St. Peter’s Evangelical Church is known by Samaná Americans as La Churcha. This is the oldest structure in town. Estimates suggest about 8,000 descendants of these early colonists now live in Samaná.
San Pedro Evangelical Church, Calle Theodore Chasereaux, Samaná 32000, Dominican Republic
On the south side of Parque Colón is Cathedral of Santa María de la Encarnación. This is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. Pope Julius II commissioned the Catholic church in 1504. The Gothic design by architect Alonso de Rodriguez features a warm-colored coral limestone. Within the 177 foot length of this minor basilica are a central nave and 12 side chapels. From 1542 until 1795, the remains of Christopher Columbus were interred within Catedral Primada de América. This western façade with a Plateresque style is called the Great Gate. The double-eagle relief above the arches is the coat of arms of Charles V as the Holy Roman Emperor. He was also known as Charles I while the King of Spain when the cathedral was consecrated in 1541.
Cathedral of America, Calle Arzobispo Meriño, Santo Domingo 10210, Dominican Republic
Shortly after Nicolás de Ovando became governor in 1502, he invited the Franciscans to his new city. They built the first San Francisco Monastery with wood in 1508. Starting in 1523, the friars spent about 140 years constructing it with stone. The vast, two block property – designed by Rodrigo de Liendo – included a convent, church and chapel. This archway was the entrance to the church, finished in 1556. Monasterio de San Francisco was assaulted many times. Sir Francis Drake ransacked it in 1586. The monastery suffered earthquake damage in 1673 and again in 1751. Several hurricanes pummeled the building. In 1808, portions collapsed during the Battle of Palo Hincado between the Spanish and the French. Further destruction occurred at the hands of the Haitians a few decades later. The final straw was in 1930 during the category 4 Hurricane San Zenon. The monastery is now in ruins.
Calle Hostos & Calle Emiliano Tejera, Santo Domingo 10212, Dominican Republic
Guayaquil’s first cathedral was in the Las Peñas neighborhood. The wooden structure was built in the mid-16th century, burned in 1692 and reconstructed with concrete in the 20th century. Plans to replace it at Seminario Park began with the hiring of architect Paolo Russo in 1924. The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Peter was not finished until 1956. Above the tympanum of the Roman Catholic church is a rose window filled with intricate pieces of stained glass. Not shown are two impressive bell towers crowning this architectural gem of Guayaquil.
Parque Seminario, Chimborazo & Clemente Ballen y Millán, Guayaquil 090313, Ecuador
Since 1567, the commanding visual of Ecuador’s capital city has been the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito. This exquisite blend of Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassical and Mudéjar styles is encircled with statues of saints and angels and features three green ceramic domes. This entrance facing Plaza de la Independencia is called the Arch of Carondelet. The single white bell tower is ornate and elegant. In 1995, this Roman Catholic church was proclaimed to be the Cathedral of Ecuador.
Chile & Venezuela Streets, Quito 170401, Ecuador
In the Nubian Desert in southern Egypt is the Temple of Ramesses in Abu Simbel. Outside are four mammoth images of the pharaoh. They were carved out of a mountain in 1244 BC. Nearby are two smaller temples. One is dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of motherhood. The other honors Queen Nefertari, the wife of Ramesses the Great. When these sites were threatened to go underwater from Lake Nasser, $40 million was spent over four years to dismantle and reassemble them 650 feet away.
Abu Simbel Temples, Aswan Governate, Egypt
Sitting atop the Moqattam Hills within the fortified Cairo Citadel is the impressive Islamic Mosque of Muhammad Ali. This famous place of worship was built with limestone in the mid-nineteenth century by Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas’ud ibn Agha. Many people consider him to be the father of modern Egypt. This Ottoman-style mosque consists of one central dome and four semi-domes. The two minarets are over 260 feet tall. This landmark structure, also called the Alabaster Mosque, is visible throughout much of Cairo, Egypt.
Privet Entrance, Bel Kalaa Al Abageyah, Qism El-Khalifa, Cairo Governorate, Egypt