15 Cathedrals You Must See Once in Your Lifetime

They are silent witnesses that tell the story of the towns and cities where they stand. Spaces of immense beauty that are considered some of the most important tourist spots in cities and towns around the world. They are the cathedrals and basilicas scattered across the globe.

Some feature architecture that can leave us breathless, or interiors filled with stained glass illuminated by the sun, creating unique postcards. We travel the world in search of our favorite cathedrals, those that we would visit again and again.

Built between 1163 and 1245, the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the oldest gothic cathedrals in the world. The cathedral's name means Our Lady and, in this case, it is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

In its eight centuries of history, it has undergone renovations several times, the most significant being in the mid-19th century and, after the tragic fire, the restoration currently taking place. A cathedral that is living history: it witnessed the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte, the beatification of Joan of Arc, and the coronation of Henry VI of England.

The most photogenic cathedral in Italy, dedicated to the Virgin Santa Maria del Fiore (of the flower), was built over the old Cathedral of Santa Reparata, which had become too small to accommodate the entire populace. A beautiful cathedral that is now the fourth largest in the world, after St. Peter's in Rome, St. Paul's in London, and the Cathedral of Milan.

This beautiful cathedral, strangely enough, is found inside the Prague Castle. Its construction began in 1344 under the orders of Charles IV and was completed in the 19th and 20th centuries. This cathedral is famous for housing the tomb of the so-called "good king". But it is also known for being the site of the coronation of the kings of Bohemia.

A must-see in Germany for housing treasures such as the golden urn with the remains of the three Magi, the triptych by Stefan Lochner, and the Fero crucifix dating back to the 9th century. All adorned with stunning medieval stained glass.

Not only that, but it constitutes the most important sacred building of the Christian people and a true gem of Gothic architecture located on the left bank of the Rhine River.

There is no visit to Rome without stopping by the Vatican and its grand St. Peter's Basilica. This place is considered the center of world Christianity, but it is not just that... it is also the largest church in the world and an architectural masterpiece conceived by the greatest Italian artists of a whole era. Inside, it is easy to be awed by its grandeur or by the collection of popes' tombs in its basement.

It is one of the icons of Barcelona and all of Spain. A beautiful monument that stands as the ultimate example of modernist architecture created by Gaudí, attracting millions of tourists each year to admire this curious but unfinished temple. Inside, being amazed by the hundreds of branches that rise towards the sky is something to do once in a lifetime.

The Cathedral of Milan, in Italian Duomo di Milano, is one of the most beautiful gothic cathedrals in the world. We find it right in the center of the Italian city of the same name and it stands as one of the largest cathedrals of the Catholic faith in the world, measuring 157 meters long. Inside, it can hold up to 40,000 people and, curiously, its choir windows are known to be the largest known.

We head to Córdoba to encounter one of the most amazing places, without a doubt, in all of Spain. It is the most important monument of the Islamic West and one of the most astonishing in the world.

This site, where 90% is an Islamic mosque, houses an impressive cathedral inside. Hence the name Mosque-Cathedral. Here we find Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque styles, and, primarily, the Umayyad style.

It is the most important religious temple in the city of Venice and is located in St. Mark's Square, next to the Doge's Palace. This imposing basilica, visited by millions each year, has always been the center of public and religious life in the city.

Not only that, it is also considered one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe and around the world. Here we can find an intriguing combination of architectural styles that attest to the wealth and historical power of Venice.

It is undoubtedly the most notable work of Romanesque art in Spain. Not only that, but it is also the final destination of all the Camino de Santiago routes that have brought pilgrims to the tomb of an apostle for centuries. Moreover, it is located in one of the few recognized holy cities in the world.

A beauty of Gothic style. This slender Cathedral of Our Lady in Antwerp began construction in 1352 over an old Romanesque church. A magnificent building that covers around 8,000 square meters and is over 40 meters tall.

Inside, the stained glass from 1537 depicts biblical scenes along with grand organs and significant works of art like the Baroque painting by Peter Paul Rubens and other important painters like Murillo or Marten de Vos.

This building is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved Christian structures in England. This cathedral is located in Kent and dates back to 597 AD, recognized for its grandeur and perpendicular Gothic style. It is also noted for its emphasis on vertical lines and its spectacular stained glass.

A cathedral among skyscrapers located on Fifth Avenue in New York, right across from the Atlas statue at Rockefeller Center. It is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the entire country and houses the Archdiocese of New York. But what is most surprising is its location, amidst enormous skyscrapers like Rockefeller Center with its 66 floors.

It is one of the great symbols of Istanbul. This is the Hagia Sophia, as it is called by the Turks. It was built during the reign of Justinian between 532 and 537 and is considered one of the masterpieces of Byzantine art.

This church has a great curiosity: between 1204 and 1261, it was the church of the Pope. After functioning as a church for over 900 years, it was taken by the Ottoman Empire in 1453 and converted into a mosque. The Ottomans added four minarets, a theological school, and a public dining hall.

Without a doubt, it is one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world because it is found... underground. We find it 48 kilometers north of Bogotá and it appears as a modern construction made by Roswell Garavito Pearl in the 1990s.

It is located, specifically, 180 meters underground, within a salt mine that has been exploited since 1801 inside the Salt Park of Zipaquirá. This cathedral is considered one of the epicenters of pilgrimage in the country.