In the four corners of the world are sacred places with unique architecture that exude an intense spirituality. Temples, churches, places of pilgrimage amaze visitors with their grandeur beyond the limits of religion.
Places of beauty and emotion, these marvels of architecture leave no visitor indifferent. Here are, in our opinion, 10 of the most emblematic and spectacular sacred places .
1. The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey
One of the symbols of the Turkish metropolis and a true architectural masterpiece. This mosque is actually called Sultan Ahmet Camii , but it is better known as the Blue Mosque because of the color of its interior ceramics. The prayer room is impressively bright thanks to its 300 windows , creating brilliant reflections and plays of light and shadow on the walls and floor.
2. Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar
The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon , Myanmar is one of the grandest places of worship on the planet . Admire this triumph of spiers, Buddha statues and small temples and its magnificent golden dome at sunset . Join the faithful (always numerous, as every Buddhist in Myanmar hopes to make a pilgrimage here at least once in their life!) to pray, relax , eat and light candles : a very unique experience!
3. Cathedral of Saint Basil, Moscow, Russia
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site , the eccentric and magnificent Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow’s Red Square is an emblem of Russian architecture. It was built by Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible in honor of the conquest of the Khanate of Kazan in 1552. Legend has it that the Tsar ordered the architects who built the palace to be blinded to prevent them reproduce such a masterpiece!
4. Angkor Wat, Angkor, Cambodia
The “City of the Temple” is a huge complex of temples built in the 12th century by the fabulous Khmer empire in Cambodia. These majestic, mysterious, and elegant buildings still used as places of worship will transport you back to their heyday , when Angkor was the seat of the Devaraja (god-king) and the heart of the Empire. Angkor Wat is today the symbol of Cambodia.
5. Notre-Dame-de-Paris, Paris, France
The famous cathedral in the center of Paris is an imposing and grandiose neo-Gothic building with superb stained glass windows and gargoyles. Since 1345, the year of its construction, Notre-Dame Cathedral has undergone many renovations and today it is an artistic marvel as much as a place of prayer.
6. The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Kaaba is literally the 15 x 12 meter “cube” protected by a veil located in the center of the mosque square in Mecca. It is the place par excellence of Muslim prayer , in particular because it contains the black stone, a sacred relic of Islam. It is thus facing the holy city of Mecca that Muslims pray five times a day, and this is where it is recommended to go on pilgrimage at least once in your life.
7. St. Peter’s Basilica, The Vatican
The most important church for Catholics around the world is also one of the largest religious buildings in the world. The basilica is an imposing building adorned with marble columns, gold, paintings, statues of angels and iconic works by some of the most famous Renaissance artists , including Raphael, Michelangelo and the sculptor Bernini .
8. The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
The Wailing Wall is a very important place in the Jewish religion and the Muslim religion . This is the last remaining section of the wall surrounding the Temple Mount . It is a very controversial place, but whatever your religion and your feelings about the history of the Wall , it is very interesting to stop here and sometimes see believers slip prayer sheets into the cracks of the wall .
9. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
What is the feeling in front of such an imposing and mysterious building ? You can only be amazed by contemplating the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Still under construction, this expiatory temple was started in 1882 and is scheduled for completion in 2026, but be sure to take a tour inside. The grandiose and exaggerated neo-Gothic lines come from the visionary genius of Gaudí , who enriched the structure with so many details that you could spend whole days discovering them!
10. Lotus Temple, New Dehli, India
The Lotus Temple takes its name from the shape of its structure with 27 white marble petals , reminiscent of one of the most sacred flowers . This building is the most important place of worship of the Baha’i religion , a philosophy born in Persia in the 19th century, preaching universal peace . Anyone can come in and stay as long as they want to meditate, reflect, pray or be mesmerized by the peace that emanates from it.
