# The Most Beautiful Churches in the World

From Ethiopia to Brazil

## St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia

A bright, almost psychedelic sight in the middle of Moscow’s Red Square

Photo: Getty

St. Basil's Cathedral is a bright, almost psychedelic sight in the middle of Moscow’s Red Square, thanks to its colorful domes and swirling patterns.
Even today, the candy-colored creation, commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the mid-1500s, still seems to rise like a dream in the center of the modern city.

## Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavík, Iceland

Designed to resemble the basalt lava that flows in Iceland, the church looks like a strong upside-down V made of tall, thin white beams.

Photo: Gallery Stock

Designed to resemble the basalt lava that flows in Iceland, the church looks like a strong upside-down V made of tall, thin white beams.
Even though the exterior is striking, make sure you visit the inside as well—there’s a sculpture of the famous explorer Leif Eriksson and an observatory at the top where you can get breathtaking views of Reykjavik.

## Gergeti Trinity Church, Georgia

A 14th-century structure that can be reached within an hour or two from the base town of Stepantsminda.

Photo: Getty

Hiking through Georgia's Caucasus Mountains is a vacation in its own right. One of the essential stops on your trek should be the Gergeti Trinity Church, a 14th-century structure that can be reached within an hour or two from the base town of Stepantsminda.
Let's just say that attending a candlelit mass above the cloud line at 7,100 feet is one you won't forget.

## Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal, Canada

a stunning example of the Gothic Revival style, featuring a looming Casavant Frères pipe organ that dates back to 1891.

Photo: Getty

Built in the 1820s in Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica is a stunning example of the Gothic Revival style, featuring two soaring towers, hundreds of intricate wooden carvings, and a looming Casavant Frères pipe organ that dates back to 1891.
Be sure not to miss Moment Factory’s astounding Aura, a ticketed 45-minute multimedia spectacle that combines lights, orchestral music, and the grandiose architecture in a unique three-act experience.

## Church of the Transfiguration, Kizhi Island, Russia

Not a single nail was used in the construction.

Photo: Getty

Located on Lake Onega in the Republic of Karelia, Kizhi Island is basically one big open-air museum containing dozens of historical wooden buildings, the most famous of which is the Church of the Transfiguration. The 22-dome structure was built in 1714, and is famous for one major engineering feat: Not a single nail was used in the construction.
Instead, the church was built with horizontal logs that interlock in the corners (think next-level Lincoln logs). It's definitely something that has to be seen to be believed.

## Cathedral of Brasília, Brazil

From the outside, the church resembles a strange UFO.

Photo: Getty

From the outside, the 16 concrete pillars that form the structure of the Cathedral of Brasília resemble a strange UFO. From the inside, the sweeping panes of blue and green stained glass make this one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
The cathedral, designed by famed architect Oscar Niemeyer, also features sculptures of angels hanging from the ceiling and a reflecting pool encircling the building.

## Church of the Assumption, Lake Bled, Slovenia

A charming, 17th-century building that even has a “wishing bell” that guests can ring.

Photo: Getty

There's a reason Lake Bled is one of Slovenia's most popular sites. With its emerald waters, views of the Julien Alps, and Disney-like castle on a hill, you won't be short of picture-perfect views.
But it's most beautiful site is the Church of the Assumption on a tiny island in the middle of the lake, a charming, 17th-century building that even has a “wishing bell” that guests can ring.

## Church of St. George, Lalibela, Ethiopia

The churches, which date all the way back to the 12th century, come complete with catacombs and ceremonial passages

Photo: Getty

In northern Ethiopia, the small town of Lalibela is known for its eleven medieval churches carved out of monolithic rock. The churches, which date all the way back to the 12th century, come complete with catacombs and ceremonial passages; some even have networks of trenches that connect them to the other buildings.
Although ancient, the structures still welcome pilgrimages today.

## Las Lajas Sanctuary, Nariño, Colombia

One of the most unusual churches in the world, due to its precarious location 150 feet over a river gorge.

Photo: Getty

Las Lajas Sanctuary in Colombia is one of the most unusual churches in the world, due to its precarious location 150 feet over a river gorge. The site first served as a shrine in the 1700s following a reported sighting of the Virgin Mary's image in the rocks, and the current Gothic-style church was built in the early 1900s.

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