Kronborg Castle’s Chapel
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Chapel at Kronborg Castle isn’t especially large, and it’s not ornate by the standards of other European churches, but it has its charms.
Templo de la Enseñanza
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — It might be small, but the Templo de la Enseñanza packs in an incredibly ornate Mexican Baroque interior.
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.
The Luminaries of Portuguese History and Culture
LISBON, Portugal — Under the distinctive white dome, the National Parthenon pays tribute to luminaries in Portuguese history and culture, including navigators, kings, presidents, writers, poets, and even soccer players.
Igreja de São Roque, Portugal’s Oldest Jesuit Church
LISBON, Portugal — Portugal’s oldest Jesuit church is plain on the outside, but inside it’s beautifully decorated with a series of Baroque chapels.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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 Santo Domingo and the Arco Chato
PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Iglesia Santo Domingo in Casco Viejo is mostly crumbling ruins but is best known for its Flat Arch spanning the interior that stood without supports for centuries.
Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
PANAMA CITY, Panama — The Catedral Metropolitana in Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old quarter, is one of the largest churches in Central America at dates to 1688 to 1796.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Tombs of the Sultans at Hagia Sophia
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Türkiye) — The Tombs of the Sultans at Hagia Sophia show that the Ottomans were as serious about their art and decoration in death as they were in life.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Saints Michael & Gudula
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Most churches count their blessings to have one patron saint. This one has two.
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.
Trinity Church, The Church at the Bottom of the World
KING GEORGE ISLAND, Antarctica — Trinity Church is not the only church in Antarctica, but it may well be the most elaborate.
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.
Wat Si Saket, Vientiane
VIENTIANE, Laos — Wat Si Saket (or Sisaket Temple), with an impressive collection of 2000 Buddha statues, is reputed to be the oldest Buddhist temple still standing in Vientiane.
Hanoi’s Oldest Pagoda
HANOI, Vietnam — At 1400 years old, Tran Quoc Pagoda, in a picturesque spot on a small island in Hanoi’s West Lake, is the city’s oldest temple. And while small, it’s quite beautiful.
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.
