This is another one of Hamburg’s five Hauptkirchen (main church) and the most recognizable church in the city, thanks to its Baroque copper spire. It is dedicated to the archangel Michael, who is shown in action, defeating the devil, in a large bronze statue above the portal. The first church on this site dates back […]
Tag Archives | church
St. Katharinen
St. Katharinen’s claim to fame: Bach played here! The first concert was in 1701 and the second was in 1720 when he was in town auditioning for nearby Jacobikirche’s organist job. The organ he played was destroyed during WWII bombings. St. Katharinen is one of the five main Lutheran churches in Hamburg. Although St. Katharinen […]
Onze Lieve Vrouwekathedraal, Antwerp
This is the largest Gothic church in the Low Countries. If you’re not impressed by this superlative, just know there are a lot of churches in the region. The 123-meter spire dominates Antwerp’s skyline. It feels roomy inside, too, as the wide central nave is flanked by three aisles on each side. Antwerp’s centerpiece originated […]
Église St-Nicolas
This Romanesque church dates back 1,000 years to the origins of Brussels, though little remains of the original chapel. Its 11th-century lines are concealed by a 14th-century Gothic facade and the repairs made after the French bombardment of 1695, from which a cannonball is still lodged in one of the pillars.
St. Maria im Kapitol
This is the largest of the Romanesque churches in Cologne, and an easy one to miss since it’s right across from the Chocolate Museum! St. Maria im Kapitol was constructed in the 11th century and is the second church to stand on this site, over the foundations of a 50 A.D. Roman temple. The first […]
St. Philomena Cathedral, Mysore
I didn’t notice the dearth of cathedrals in India until I saw this. Oddly, seeing this colorful church was like encountering an old friend. I’m not religious at all, but cathedrals are ubiquitous in Europe and often serve as the showy centerpiece of towns. St. Philomena was constructed between 1933-41 in a neo-Gothic style. This […]
Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
This 16th-century Roman Catholic church was built to thank God for the deliverance of the city from a major outbreak of the plague. It was designed by Andrea Palladio and is a single nave church with three chapels on either side. The façade was inspired by the Parthenon and the 15 steps were in reference […]
