With their fascinating history and artistic splendor, churches have become temples of culture as well as sacred places.
The Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona welcomes almost four million visitors every year.
Ecclesiastical buildings are among the main tourist attractions in European cities, including St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Westminster Abbey in London and Cologne Cathedral.
With their fascinating history and artistic splendor, they have become temples of culture as well as sacred places.
Here are some other art-rich churches in Europe that you may not have known about and should consider making a trip to.
Marvel at the Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna
With Venice removed from cruise ship itineraries, passengers can dock Ravennaa city about two hours south with a port.
Modest and relaxed, Ravenna surprises visitors with its distinguished history as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century and its enchanting Byzantine mosaics.
Eight religious buildings make up the Early Christian UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ravenna, each decorated with dazzling pavement.
Inside the Basilica of San Vitale, visitors can marvel at glittering scenes of Old Testament episodes and angels, while the opulent mosaics of the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo depict the charging of the bejeweled magi and richly dressed virgins.
Cappadocia: rock churches full of frescoes
Cappadocia is much more than just a hot air balloon show. This region of central Turkey is dotted with ancient cave communities, some of which can still be visited.
One of the most complete cave cities is today an open-air museum. The highlight of Göreme are the churches and monasteries carved into the rock and colorfully painted.
The Tokalı Kilise (Loop Church) contains 11th-century frescoes depicting biblical scenes against a brilliant blue background of lapis lazuli, while the Karanlık Kilise (Dark Church) is home to some of the best-preserved Byzantine wall paintings in Cappadocia thanks to the absence of sunlight. .
Immerse yourself in history at Durham Cathedral
The colossal form of its cathedral rises above the trees and houses of the northern English city of Durham.
Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, this cavernous stone structure is a model of monumental Romanesque architecture with a nave ceiling that is the earliest example of rib vaulting.
The cathedral houses the relics of Saint Cuthbert, the patron saint of Northumbria, and the Venerable Bede, the English monk and scholar.
With the sprawling adjacent castle, yes included in the world heritage UNESCO as the largest and best example of Norman architecture.
Admire the golden mosaics of Cefalù Cathedral
Coastal city Cefaluin the north of Sicily, it is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and is famous for its fortress-shaped Norman cathedral.
On the Arab-Norman World Heritage ListUNESCO Along with other structures in nearby Palermo, the 12th-century church is flanked by massive twin towers and decorated with tracery of pointed arches.
Inside, the underside of the apse glitters with golden mosaics depicting the giant Christ Pantokrator.
ADVERTISEMENTExploring a mosque-turned-church in Córdoba
It is located in the Andalusia regionSpainCórdoba was an important Roman colony, then a major Islamic center in the Middle Ages.
In this latter period, the city’s Mezquita, a sprawling mosque with an impressive array of two-storied arches, striped in red and cream, was built.
When Córdoba was conquered by Christian forces in the 13th century, the mosque was gradually transformed into a cathedral.
Over the next four centuries, the building underwent major alterations and additions, such as the lavish Mudejar-style Royal Chapel and the intricately carved Gothic nave.