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Culture Explorer

Jul 5, 2024 • 26 tweets • 8 min read • Read on X

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Cathedrals serve as places of worship in a relentless pursuit of the divine.

However, these 24 cathedrals also challenge the boundaries between heaven and earth. 🧵

1. St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican City)

One of the largest and most renowned churches in the world, it features a magnificent Renaissance design, Michelangelo's iconic dome, and houses priceless works of art, including the Pietà.

2. Saint Basil’s Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)

Known for its colorful onion domes and intricate patterns, it looks like a fairytale structure.

3. Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)

Designed by Antoni Gaudí, its unique architectural style features intricate sculptures and stunning stained-glass windows.

4. Amiens Cathedral (Amiens, France)

An exemplary Gothic cathedral, it is renowned for its immense size, stunning sculptures, and intricately designed facades, and was built to house the head of John the Baptist.

5. Milan Cathedral (Milan, Italy)

One of the largest Gothic cathedrals, it boasts over 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles, and stunning stained-glass windows.

6. St. Paul’s Cathedral (London, England)

Its vast dome and Baroque facade have dominated the London skyline since 1697.

7. St. Vitus Cathedral (Prague, Czech Republic)

Features a 102-meter-high spire and an interior adorned with stained glass windows and fine mosaics.

8. Chartres Cathedral (Chartres, France)

A well-preserved Gothic masterpiece with elaborate facades and large stained glass windows.

9. Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence, Italy)

Known for its green, pink, and white marble facade and the massive red-tiled dome.

10. Saint Sophia’s Cathedral (Kiev, Ukraine)

Renowned for its white walls, green and gold cupolas, and Byzantine-style frescoes and mosaics.

11. St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York City, USA)

A Neo-Gothic structure with elegant spires and a stunning stained glass rose window amidst Manhattan's skyscrapers.

12. Cologne Cathedral (Cologne, Germany)

With twin spires reaching 157 meters, it has the largest church facade in the world and impressive Gothic architecture.

13. Sainte Chapelle (Paris, France)

Famous for its vast stained-glass windows depicting biblical scenes.

14. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Sofia, Bulgaria)

Features Neo-Byzantine architecture and a gold-plated dome, honoring Russian soldiers.

15. Catedral Basílica Del Pilar (Zaragoza, Spain)

Built in a Baroque style with attractive cupolas and a central dome, particularly stunning at night.

16. Zipaquira Salt Cathedral (Zipaquira, Colombia)

Carved within a salt mine, featuring finely sculpted icons and representations of Jesus' life.

17. Saint John’s Co-Cathedral (Valletta, Malta)

Its plain exterior hides a lavish Baroque interior with gold decorations and marble tombstones.

18. Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem, Israel)

Revered as the site of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, this ancient church combines various architectural styles and holds immense religious significance for Christians worldwide.

19. Basílica Catedral de Lima, Peru

20. San Agustin Church (Manila, Philippines)

The oldest stone church in the Philippines, it features a beautifully preserved Baroque style and a richly decorated interior with intricate trompe-l'œil murals.

21. San Marco Basilica (Venice, Italy)

Showcases Italo-Byzantine architecture with an ornate Gothic roofline and a gold-decked interior filled with mosaics.

22. Washington National Cathedral (Washington, D.C., USA)

An imposing example of neo-Gothic architecture, it features beautiful stained glass windows, intricate carvings, and serves as a significant national house of prayer and reflection.

23. Vank Cathedral (Isfahan, Iran)

Known for its unique combination of Armenian and Persian architectural elements, with stunning frescoes and intricate tile work.

24. Seville Cathedral (Seville, Spain)

One of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, its main altar, known as the Retablo Mayor, is particularly stunning, featuring a series of gold-covered wood carvings that depict scenes from the life of Christ.

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