Whether you're devout, secular, or simply a design geek, these jaw-dropping churches will leave you craving the aesthetic. It should be no surprise that places of worship mother some of the most beautiful architecture the world has known.
Not only do churches manage to capture the aesthetic of the place and time in which they were built, they are often commissioned to honor faith itself. Thus, churches often reflect the architect and culture's relationship to God and frequently channel that beauty into ornate, conceptual, and impeccable details.
The famous Renaissance architect Michelangelo, who helped construct St. Peter's Basilica, connected his artistry to God.
"Many believe — and I believe — that I have been designated for this work by God," Michelangelo said. "In spite of my old age, I do not want to give it up; I work out of love for God and I put all my hope in Him."
I think the beauty of these churches completely reflects the spirit of Michelangelo's message.
1. The Jubilee Church
The Jubilee Church in Rome was designed by architect Richard Meier in 1996. The massive concrete walls aren't merely for aesthetic; they're designed to control internal heat gain. It is believed that less temperature variation is more energy efficient. Therefore, not only is the Jubilee Church a place of worship, it's also environmentally conscious!
2. St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
Archbishop Constantine Bohachevsky commissioned architect Zenon Mazurkiewych to create what Bohachevsky believed to be a church for "the Glory of God and Future Generations." The exterior is quite modern while the interior features Byzantine-style icons.
3. Hallgrímskirkja, Lutheran (Church of Iceland)
The church is named after Hallgrimur Petursson, an Icelandic poet and clergyman. Designed by architect Guojon Samuelsson in 1937, it is thought to resemble the basalt lava flows of the country’s landscape.
4. Cathedral of Brasilia
The Cathedral of Brasilia in Brazil seats the Archdiocese. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in 1970, the church is constructed of sixteen 90-ton concrete columns.
5. St. Basil's Cathedral
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, Russia was built from 1555–61. It was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible.
6. St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery
Constructed in the Middle Ages by Sviatopolk II Iziaslavych in the Ukraine, the cathedral has been a work-in-progress with new sections added throughout the 1700s and early 20th century.
7. Chapel of the Holy Cross
The Arizona chapel was built by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude and was inspired by the newly constructed Empire State Building in 1932.
8. The Crystal Cathedral
The Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, CA is a reflective glass building designed by architect Phillip Johnson in 1981.
9. Las Lajas Sanctuary
The construction of Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia is tied to an 18th-century miracle. In 1754, Maria Mueces and her deaf-mute daughter Rosa saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary while taking shelter in the giant lajas, or flat sedimentary rock. Following the incident, many would travel to the area to take pilgrimage. The church was built centuries later between 1916 and 1949.
10. Sagrada Familia
Architect Antoni Gaudi began construction on the Sagrada Familia in 1883. The church, which remains unfinished, is known for its detailed engravings of biblical scenery and images. The Sagrada's anticipated completion date is 2026.
11. St. Peter's Basilica
One of the largest churches in the world, St. Peter's Basilica was designed by renowned Renaissance architects Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
12. Notre Dame du Haut
Inspired by more "primitive and sculptural" architecture, Franco-Swiss designer Le Corbusier constructed the Notre Dame Du Haut in 1954.
13. Basilica de Higuey
The Basilica de Higuey in the Dominican Republic was built on the grounds of a miracle. When a young girl received a picture of the Virgin Mary from her father, the picture would mysteriously be moved outside of her home and and would repeatedly settle under a small tree outside. The girl kept returning the picture to her room, but each time it would reappear outside under the tree. The area was considered sacred and the church was created on the land in 1970.
14. Cathedral of Maringa
The Cathedral of Maringa is the tallest building in South America. Architect José Augusto Bellucci was inspired by the Russian satellite Sputnik</em>; Bellucci believed that word described someone who was moving away from the material world and closer to God.
15. Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe chapel
The French chapel was built in the year 962 on a volcanic formation. The chapel can only be reached by climbing 268 steps carved into rock.
16. Thorncrown Church
The Thorncrown Chapel was constructed in 1980 by E. Fay Jones in Arkansas. The architecture references Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School of architecture with its open air structure and minimal materials.
