This massive Gothic cathedral can be seen from all points in Cologne. The first time I saw it was out a plane’s window, from which it looks truly unbelievable. For about five minutes, the 157-meter spires made this the tallest structure in the world. Then, the Eiffel Tower surpassed it. The Dom has an interesting […]
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Fraumünster
The Fraumünster has the most beautiful stained glass windows in Zürich, courtesy of Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti (cousin of Alberto). The Fraumünster’s history goes all the way back to 853, when King Ludwig gave his daughter Hildegard the convent and tower-less basilica which stood on this site. Like all new real estate owners, the […]
St. Peterskirche
This church boasts the largest clock face in Europe (8.7 meters in diameter, compared to Big Ben’s 6.9). The late Romanesque-Gothic tower contains five bells from the late-1800’s, the largest one weighing six tons. St. Peterskirche is the oldest church in Zürich, with origins back to the 900’s. The city’s first mayor, Rudolf Brun, acquired […]
The Grossmünster
In a city of churches, this one dominates the skyline. It’s fitting, since this church was the birthplace of the Swiss-German Reformation. In the 16th century, the Grossmünster’s minister, Huldrych Zwingli, transformed Zürich into an important religious center by spreading his humanist ideas. Zwingli based his philosophy on that of Erasmus, and eventually began rebelling […]
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece has adorned the British skyline sine 1710. It was constructed after the previous building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. But this isn’t #2; over 1400 years, a total of five places of worship have stood on this site. The first service was held in this building in 1697. […]
Dom St. Peter, or the Trier Cathedral
How fitting for the oldest town in Germany that its cathedral, Dom St. Peter, is the oldest church in Germany. To this day, it remains a working Catholic cathedral. Trier is the oldest seat of a Christian Bishop north of the Alps. In the Middle Ages, the Archbishop of Trier was an important prince of […]
Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa
This red-stone structure is the last resting place of St. Francis Xavier, Goa’s patron saint. In 1541, the saint embarked on a mission to right the sinful lifestyles of Goa’s Portugese colonials. He ended up in a glass-sided coffin.
Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Old Goa
This 1661 church was built over a 16th century chapel. It’s not been kept up, but you can still see the extravagant woodwork, murals depicting the life of St. Francis, frescoes of elaborate flowers and angels and Portugese tombstones.
Sé Cathedral of Santa Catarina, Old Goa
This is not only the largest church in India, but in all of Asia. Construction began in 1562 under Portugese King Dom Sebastião’s orders to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over a Muslim army, which resulted in Goa’s capture. Since the day of the victory fell on the feast of Saint Catherine, the cathedral […]
Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Panjim
Some church! The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is an enormous white wedding cake of a church smack in the middle of town. It was built in 1540, back when Panjim was a sleepy fishing village and the first port of call for Portugese sailors, who would then worship here after a […]
