Christian Art & Architecture


Sacristy of the Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora in Lisbon Portugal

Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora

LISBON, Portugal – The Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora is a 17th-century monastery that features impressive polychromatic marble and the tomb of several Portuguese kings.

Icons on Display in the Museu de Sao Roque in Lisbon Portugal

Museu de São Roque

LISBON, Portugal — Attached to the Igreja de São Roque, the Museu de São Roque displays artifacts related to the church’s history, collections of the Jesuits, and other items.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, Greece

ATHENS, Greece — The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens is one of the grandest churches in this ancient city. And in typical Greek Orthodox style, it is opulently decorated inside.

Sacristy in Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Dominating the northern side of the Zocalo in the historic quarter of Mexico City, the Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest Roman Catholic Cathedral in the Americas.

Iglesia de San Bernardo, Mexico City, Mexico

Templo de San Bernardo

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Dedicated to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Templo de San Bernardo dates to 1680 and was once part of a larger convent complex. Now only the church remains.

Mary and Child Statue at Iglesia de Santa Ines, Mexico City, Mexico

Iglesia de Santa Ines

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — It’s not the most lavish of the many churches in Mexico City’s Centro Historico district, but this church dedicated to Saint Agnes of Rome is one of the more tastefully decorated.

Statue Preservation at Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad in Mexico City, Mexico

Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — While it’s not as opulent as some of the other churches nearby, Iglesia de la Santisima Trinidad has a charm of its own as a quiet sanctuary from the bustle in the busy streets around it.

Iglesia San Francisco de Asis Casco Viejo Panama

Iglesia San Francisco de Asis

PANAMA CITY, Panama — The bell tower of Iglesia San Francisco de Asis stands tall above the rest of Casco Viejo, on the waterfront of the historic heart of Panama City, Panama.

Iglesia San Jose Casco Viejo Panama City Panama

Iglesia San Jose

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Iglesia San Jose, in Casco Viejo and dating to 1673, is most famous for its massive Golden Altar (Altar de Oro) that survived pirate raids in 1671.

La Iglesia de la Merced Casco Viejo Panama City Statue of María de Cervello

La Iglesia de la Merced

PANAMA CITY, Panama — Dating back to 1680, La Iglesia de la Merced sits in the heart of Casco Viejo, just a couple of blocks from Independence Square.

Iglesia de la Merced, Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia de la Merced | Granada

GRANADA, Nicaragua — Behind the run-down facade of Iglesia de la Merced is one of the most important churches in Granada. And its clock tower offers the best view of the city.

Nave of La Capilla Maria Auxiliadora, Granada, Nicaragua

La Capilla Maria Auxiliadora

GRANADA, Nicaragua — La Capilla Maria Auxiliadora isn’t the grandest or most famous of Granada’s churches. But it makes a credible claim to be the most beautiful.

Altar Piece in Cathedral of Granada, Nicaragua

Catedral de Granada

GRANADA, Nicaragua — The distinctive yellow and white Granada Cathedral dominates the city’s skyline and is Granada’s most important of the city’s several churches.

Facade of Centro Cultural Convento San Francisco, Granada, Nicaragua

Granada’s San Francisco Convent & Museum

GRANADA, Nicaragua — Behind that impressive facade, standing above most of the city of Granada, is the city’s main museum. Its exhibits are rather eclectic, but many of them relate in some way to the history of Granada and the nearby region.

Granada Municipal Cemetery

Granada Cemetery

GRANADA, Nicaragua — Granada’s city cemetery is Nicaragua’s oldest. And because of Granada’s historical significance, the cemetery is unusually beautiful and ornate.

Our Lady of Pilar Basilica in Buenos Aires Agentina

La Recoleta Cemetery

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — La Recoleta Cemetery’s most famous resident is Eva Peron. But her plain burial site might just be the least ostentatious in the whole cemetery.

Metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago Statue

Santiago’s Metropolitan Cathedral

SANTIAGO, Chile – The Metropolitan Cathedral has pride on place on a corner of Plaza de Armas, a the historic and cultural heart of Santiago.

Brussels Royal Museums of Fine Arts Main Hall

Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium

BRUSSELS, Belgium — Flemish art has a well-deserved reputation for its beauty. Some of the best is on display at the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels.

Our Lady of Pilar Basilica in Buenos Aires Agentina

Our Lady of Pilar Basilica

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Despite a checkered history, Our Lady of Pilar Basilica in Buenos Aires has survived as the second oldest church in Buenos Aires and looking none the worse for wear.

Aya Sofya interior with tourists

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul’s Byzantine Jewel

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Türkiye) — Hagia Sophia is old. Very old. The building that currently stands on the first of Istanbul’s famous seven hills dates back almost 1,500 years and has had a remarkable and colorful history. It’s also a beautiful place to visit.

Interior Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal

Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica

MONTREAL, Canada — The interior of Old Montreal’s Notre Dame Basilica has to rank it as one of the most stunning churches or cathedrals in North America.