BEST CATHEDRALS
Great sacred spaces and religious landmarks
Cathedrals, basilicas, and temples that represent centuries of architectural ambition.
Australia
St. Mary's Cathedral
Sydney, Australia
A Gothic Revival cathedral in sandstone, the seat of Sydney's Catholic archdiocese. Its twin spires were finally completed in 2000, long after the main building.
Austria
St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)
Vienna, Austria
A Gothic landmark at the heart of Vienna, distinguished by its ornately tiled roof and towering south spire. Catacombs beneath hold the remains of Habsburg royalty.
Salzburg Cathedral
Salzburg, Austria
An early Baroque cathedral in Salzburg's Old Town, notable as the church where Mozart was baptized and later served as organist.
Belgium
Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula
Brussels, Belgium
A Brabantine Gothic cathedral with twin towers, serving as the setting for Belgian royal weddings and state funerals. It is dedicated to the patron saints of Brussels.
Brazil
São Paulo Cathedral (Catedral da Sé)
São Paulo, Brazil
A large Neo-Gothic cathedral in central São Paulo, one of the biggest churches in Brazil. Its crypt holds the tombs of notable figures from the city's history.
Cathedral of Brasília
Brasília, Brazil
A Modernist cathedral designed by Oscar Niemeyer, formed of sweeping curved concrete columns that create a crown-like silhouette and a glass-walled, light-filled interior.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A Modernist cathedral shaped like a truncated cone, inspired by Mayan pyramids. Four floor-to-ceiling stained-glass strips flood the vast interior with color.
Bulgaria
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Sofia, Bulgaria
A large Neo-Byzantine Orthodox cathedral topped with gilded domes, built to honor Russian soldiers who died in the war that freed Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.
Canada
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Montreal, Canada
A Gothic Revival basilica in Old Montreal, famous for its deep-blue vaulted ceiling studded with gold stars and its intricately carved interior.
Colombia
Croatia
Cathedral of Saint Domnius
Split, Croatia
Built within the Roman mausoleum of Emperor Diocletian, it is considered the oldest cathedral building still in use. It sits at the core of Split's ancient palace.
Czech Republic
St. Vitus Cathedral
Prague, Czech Republic
A Gothic cathedral within the Prague Castle complex, the spiritual heart of Bohemia. It holds the tombs of Bohemian kings and the country's crown jewels.
Denmark
Church of Our Saviour (Vor Frelsers Kirke)
Copenhagen, Denmark
A Baroque church in Copenhagen best known for its external spiral staircase winding up the spire, which visitors can climb for views over the city.
Finland
Helsinki Cathedral
Helsinki, Finland
A white Neoclassical Lutheran cathedral overlooking Senate Square, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel. Its green domes are among the most recognizable images of the city.
France
Notre-Dame de Paris
Paris, France
A masterpiece of French Gothic architecture on the Île de la Cité, known for its flying buttresses, rose windows, and twin towers. Badly damaged by fire in 2019 and since restored.
Sacré-Cœur
Paris, France
A white Romano-Byzantine basilica atop Montmartre, the highest point in Paris. Its travertine stone stays pale with age, and its terrace draws crowds for city views.
Strasbourg Cathedral
Strasbourg, France
A Gothic cathedral in pink Vosges sandstone, once the world's tallest building. It is famed for its intricate facade and its Renaissance astronomical clock.
Chartres Cathedral
Chartres, France
One of the best-preserved examples of French High Gothic, celebrated for its extensive medieval stained glass and its labyrinth set into the nave floor.
Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière
Lyon, France
A Romanesque-Byzantine basilica atop Fourvière hill, richly decorated with mosaics inside. It overlooks the city and is a prominent Lyon landmark.
Reims Cathedral
Reims, France
A High Gothic cathedral where most French kings were crowned, richly ornamented with medieval sculpture including the celebrated Smiling Angel.
Amiens Cathedral
Amiens, France
The largest Gothic cathedral in France by interior volume, with the tallest complete nave in the country. Its west front carries an elaborate program of carved sculpture.
Albi Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile)
Albi, France
A fortress-cathedral built in red brick following the Cathar Crusade, with virtually no exterior windows at ground level — designed to project power and permanence. Inside, the contrast with a lavishly painted Gothic interior is startling.
Germany
Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
Cologne, Germany
A vast Gothic cathedral whose construction spanned over six centuries, with twin spires that were briefly the tallest structure in the world. It houses the Shrine of the Three Kings.
Aachen Cathedral
Aachen, Germany
The palatine chapel built by Charlemagne, the founding monument of the Holy Roman Empire. The octagonal core is among the finest Carolingian architecture surviving anywhere, and Charlemagne's throne and tomb remain inside.
Ulm Minster (Ulmer Münster)
Ulm, Germany
A Lutheran Gothic minster with the tallest church steeple in the world. Construction took over 500 years; the spire was not completed until 1890. Its 768-step gallery offers views across southern Germany.
Speyer Cathedral
Speyer, Germany
The largest surviving Romanesque church in the world, commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Conrad II. Its crypt holds the tombs of eight Holy Roman Emperors and German kings.
Hungary
Matthias Church
Budapest, Hungary
A church in Budapest's Castle District, rebuilt in ornate Gothic Revival style with a colorfully tiled roof. Several Hungarian kings were crowned here.
Iceland
Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavik, Iceland
A tall Expressionist Lutheran church whose stepped facade evokes Iceland's basalt columns. Its tower is one of the highest points in Reykjavik and offers wide views.
Ireland
Christ Church Cathedral
Dublin, Ireland
Dublin's oldest cathedral, founded in the Viking era and later rebuilt in Gothic style. It is known for its extensive medieval crypt, one of the largest in Britain and Ireland.
Israel
Italy
Duomo di Milano
Milan, Italy
One of the largest churches in the world, built in ornate Gothic style over nearly six centuries. Its marble facade bristles with spires, pinnacles, and thousands of statues.
Florence Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore)
Florence, Italy
A Gothic cathedral crowned by Brunelleschi's enormous brick dome, an engineering breakthrough of the Renaissance. Its exterior is clad in green, white, and pink marble.
St. Mark's Basilica
Venice, Italy
A Byzantine-style basilica on Piazza San Marco, opulently decorated with golden mosaics and treasures brought from Constantinople. A symbol of Venice's former wealth and power.
Siena Cathedral (Duomo di Siena)
Siena, Italy
An Italian Gothic cathedral banded in black and white marble, with an elaborate inlaid marble floor and works by Donatello, Michelangelo, and Pisano.
Pisa Cathedral
Pisa, Italy
A medieval Romanesque cathedral in the Piazza dei Miracoli, alongside its famous leaning bell tower. It features an ornate marble facade and a carved pulpit by Giovanni Pisano.
Naples Cathedral (Duomo di Napoli)
Naples, Italy
The main cathedral of Naples, dedicated to the city's patron Saint Januarius. It is the setting for the recurring liquefaction of his blood, drawing large crowds three times a year.
Duomo di Orvieto
Orvieto, Italy
A striking Italian Gothic cathedral with a golden mosaic facade, perched on a tufa cliff. Its San Brizio Chapel holds Luca Signorelli's Last Judgment frescoes.
Monreale Cathedral
Monreale, Sicily, Italy
A Norman-Byzantine cathedral whose interior is entirely lined with golden mosaics depicting the Old and New Testaments — one of the greatest achievements of medieval art.
Turin Cathedral (Duomo di Torino)
Turin, Italy
A Renaissance cathedral whose Chapel of the Holy Shroud houses the Shroud of Turin, the linen cloth bearing the image of a crucified man venerated as Christ's burial cloth.
Japan
Meiji Shrine (Meiji Jingū)
Tokyo, Japan
A major Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken, set within a large forested park in central Tokyo. It is a popular site for traditional weddings.
Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion)
Kyoto, Japan
A Zen Buddhist temple whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf, mirrored in the pond before it. The present structure is a 1955 reconstruction after arson.
Mexico
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mexico City, Mexico
The world's most-visited Catholic pilgrimage site, built on the hill where Juan Diego reported a Marian apparition in 1531. The tilma bearing the image of Our Lady is displayed in the modern basilica.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico
The largest cathedral in the Americas, built over centuries beside the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor. It blends Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles.
Morocco
Koutoubia Mosque
Marrakech, Morocco
The largest mosque in Marrakech, an example of Almohad architecture whose tall minaret is a model of proportion. It influenced later towers such as Seville's Giralda.
Netherlands
Westerkerk
Amsterdam, Netherlands
A Dutch Renaissance Protestant church beside the Jordaan district, with the tallest church tower in Amsterdam. The painter Rembrandt is buried here.
Norway
Nidaros Cathedral
Trondheim, Norway
Norway's national cathedral and the northernmost medieval cathedral in the world, built over the burial site of St. Olav. Norwegian monarchs are consecrated here, and it marks the end of the ancient St. Olav's Way pilgrimage.
Palestine
Basilica of the Nativity
Bethlehem, Palestine
Built over the grotto traditionally held to be the birthplace of Jesus, it is among the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. A silver star marks the spot.
Peru
Cathedral of Lima
Lima, Peru
A colonial cathedral on Lima's Plaza Mayor, founded by conquistador Francisco Pizarro, whose remains lie inside. It blends Renaissance and Baroque elements.
Poland
Wawel Cathedral
Kraków, Poland
Poland's national sanctuary atop Wawel Hill, where Polish kings were crowned and most are buried. Its chapels span Gothic to Baroque, and the massive Sigismund Bell is rung only on major national occasions.
Portugal
Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa)
Lisbon, Portugal
Founded in 1147 after the Christian reconquest of Lisbon, this Romanesque cathedral has a fortress-like exterior with twin battlemented towers. Its cloister holds Roman and Moorish archaeological remains.
Clérigos Tower (Torre dos Clérigos)
Porto, Portugal
A Baroque church and bell tower designed by Nicolau Nasoni, long the tallest structure in Porto. Its tower offers panoramic views over the city and the Douro.
Russia
St. Isaac's Cathedral
St. Petersburg, Russia
A vast Neoclassical cathedral with a gilded dome that dominates the St. Petersburg skyline. Its interior is decorated with malachite and lapis lazuli columns, mosaics, and enormous paintings.
Singapore
St. Andrew's Cathedral
Singapore
A Gothic Revival Anglican cathedral, among the largest in Southeast Asia. Its white walls owe their finish to Madras chunam, a traditional lime-and-shell plaster.
South Korea
Myeongdong Cathedral
Seoul, South Korea
The first Gothic church built in Korea and the seat of the Seoul Catholic archdiocese. It served as a refuge for pro-democracy activists during the 1980s.
Spain
Sagrada Família
Barcelona, Spain
Antoni Gaudí's unfinished basilica, a singular blend of Gothic and Art Nouveau forms with soaring organic columns. Under construction since 1882 and still incomplete.
Seville Cathedral
Seville, Spain
The largest Gothic cathedral in the world, built on the site of a former mosque. Its bell tower, the Giralda, was originally a minaret, and it holds a tomb attributed to Columbus.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
The Romanesque cathedral believed to hold the remains of the apostle James, and the destination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Its facade is later Baroque.
Burgos Cathedral
Burgos, Spain
A French-influenced Gothic cathedral known for its openwork spires and star-vaulted lantern. The medieval hero El Cid is buried beneath the crossing.
León Cathedral
León, Spain
A French-influenced Gothic cathedral whose walls are almost entirely replaced by stained glass — 1,800 square metres of it, the most of any Spanish cathedral. The amber and gold light that fills the nave gives it its nickname.
Mezquita-Catedral of Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
An 8th-century Great Mosque whose forest of red-and-white striped arches was converted to a cathedral after the Christian reconquest. No other building so visibly embodies the crossing of two civilizations.
Toledo Cathedral (Catedral Primada)
Toledo, Spain
The primatial seat of the Spanish Catholic Church, a French-influenced High Gothic cathedral rich in art. Its sacristy holds El Greco's masterpiece The Disrobing of Christ.
Turkey
Hagia Sophia
Istanbul, Turkey
A Byzantine engineering marvel built under Emperor Justinian, later an Ottoman mosque and a museum. Its immense dome influenced architecture for over a thousand years.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
Istanbul, Turkey
An Ottoman imperial mosque known for its cascade of domes and six minarets. Its nickname comes from the tens of thousands of blue İznik tiles lining the interior.
United Arab Emirates
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
One of the largest mosques in the world, built in white marble with dozens of domes and reflective pools. Its main prayer hall holds a vast hand-knotted carpet.
United Kingdom
Westminster Abbey
London, England
A Gothic church that has been the coronation site of English and British monarchs since 1066 and a burial place for kings, poets, and statesmen.
St. Paul's Cathedral
London, England
Sir Christopher Wren's English Baroque masterpiece, rebuilt after the Great Fire of London. Its great dome and Whispering Gallery are among the city's landmarks.
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury, England
The seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury and mother church of the Anglican Communion. It became a major pilgrimage site after the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.
York Minster
York, England
One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe, seat of the Archbishop of York. It holds an exceptional collection of medieval stained glass.
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury, England
An Early English Gothic cathedral with the tallest spire in Britain. It holds one of four surviving copies of the Magna Carta and a mechanical clock from 1386, the oldest still working in the world.
Durham Cathedral
Durham, England
A Norman cathedral on a wooded bluff above the River Wear, widely regarded as the finest Romanesque architecture in Europe. It holds the tombs of St. Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.
St. Giles' Cathedral
Edinburgh, Scotland
The principal place of worship on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, crowned by a distinctive crown steeple. It is closely tied to the Scottish Reformation and John Knox.
United States
St. Patrick's Cathedral
New York, United States
A Gothic Revival cathedral in Midtown Manhattan, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Its marble facade faces Fifth Avenue opposite Rockefeller Center.
Washington National Cathedral
Washington DC, United States
A vast Neo-Gothic Episcopal cathedral used for state funerals and national services. Among its details is a stained-glass window embedded with a piece of lunar rock.
Vatican City
St. Peter's Basilica
Vatican City
A Renaissance and Baroque basilica designed in part by Michelangelo and Bernini, and one of the holiest sites in Catholicism. Its dome dominates the Rome skyline.