Now I move on to an architectural study of Cathedrals, and a list of my favorites. Each of these buildings could be considered wonders in their own right as they have become quite iconic of their culture. Cathedrals are monuments of praise and worship to the God Almighty and for that reason I hold them all the more dear. These structures demonstrate a brilliant artistic style that seeks to awe from inside and outside. They are mankind's architectural celebration and unification of faith. And it should probably go without saying that these pictures will never do it justice, and it is my dream and hope to someday see all these wonders with my own eyes.
My Top Ten Favorite Cathedrals
10. St. Pauls Cathedral
Culture: British
Denomination: Church of England
Date of Construction: 1675-1711
Designed by: Sir Christopher Wren
Architectural Style: English Baroque
Location: London, England
Significance: It was built with the major program in restoring the glory of London after the Great Fire of 1666. The lead architect Christopher Wren wanted to create something revolutionary a building that would dominate the London skyline for 300 years. Standing at 365 feet, it's dome is the highest in the world and it is the 2nd largest church in England. It serves as the center of the Church of England and has overseen many historic events such as the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher. It famously stood strong throughout the Nazi Blitz and was a point of celebration at the end of WWI and WWII.
9. Cologne Cathedral
Culture: German
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1248-1473; 1840-1880
Comissioned by:
Designed by:
Architectural Style: Gothic
Location: Cologne, Germany
Significance: It was first constructed in the 1200 middle ages, however the project was abandoned in the 1400. It was later resumed in the 1800s due to a growing sentiment of romanticism. At it's completion in 1880 it became not only the tallest cathedral ever built yet also the tallest standing structure built by man, standing at 474 feet. This lasted for four years until it was surpassed by the Washington Monument. To this day the cathedral remains one of the most visited destinations in Germany. It has a certain dark Gothic appeal to it.
8. Westminster Abbey
Culture: British
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 960-1090; 1245-1517
Commissioned by: King Edward the Confessor
Designed by: Henry Yevele
Architectural Style: Anglo-French Gothic Style
Location: London, England
Significance: It is one of the oldest and most famous cathedrals in Great Britain. Since 1066 every English monarch, except Edward V and Edward VIII have been crowned within it's walls. It was originally designed as a royal burial church for King Edward the Confessor yet later expanded to become England's greatest abbey. In the 18th century the design was furthered by the implementation of massive towers standing over 225 feet tall.
7. St. Peter's Basilica
Culture: Italian
Date of Construction: Roman Catholic
Comissioned by
Designed by:
Archiectural Style: Renaissance
Location: Vatican City, within Rome
Significance: It is the center of all Christianity, the church of churches where the pope resides. It is also the largest church in the world taking up an area of 21,000 meters. It's dome, pillars, and many sculptors are iconic representations of the Italian Renaissance. This church is a center of spiritual and artistic wonder.
6. Hagia Sophia
Culture: Turkish
Denomination: Eastern Orthodox
Date of Construction: 532-537
Commissioned by: Byzantine Emperor Justinian
Designed by: Isidore of Miletus
Architectural Style: Byzantine architecture
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Significance: This religious monument has undergone many political and spiritual transformations since it first broke ground. It began as a monumental Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of Patriarch of Constantinople. However during the crusades it was converted into a Catholic cathedral for nearly 50 years. It was later converted into an Ottoman Mosque. It's design is most famous for it's dome and was the largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years until it was surpassed by the Seville Cathedral in 1520.
5. Saint Basil's Cathedral
Culture: Russian
Denomination: Eastern Orthodox
Date of Construction: 1555-1561
Comissioned by: Ivan the Terrible
Architectural Style:
Location: Moscow, Russia
Significance: It has become one of the iconic momnuents of Russian culture. It is so unique, colorful, and majestic that it appears as some sort of fantasy toy facility. Yet instead it is a monumental cathedral comissioned by the tsar Ivan the Terrible to commemorate his military victories. It is artisticaly designed as a flame that is rising in the sky. It's unique conception and brilliant design has become one of Russia's most proudest cultural landmarks.
4. Santa Maria del Fiore
Culture: Italian
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1296-1436
Comissioned by:
Designed by: Arnolfo de Cambio
Architecural Style: Renaissance
Location: Florence, Italy
Significance: This cathedral became one of the most groundbreaking architectural structures of the renaissance. It is one of the iconic structures in the city of Florence, Italy with it's orange brick rooftops. It's greatest architectural feat was it's domed roof, which at it's time was the largest dome in the world.
3. Notre Dame
Culture: French
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1163-1345
Architectural Style: Gothic
Location: Paris, France
Significance: It is one of the most famous cathedrals in existence and an iconic landmark in the artistic city of Paris. It is a defining examle of French Gothic architecture and utilizes original sculptures throughout it's design. The gargoyle statues are some of the best recognized feats of this structure. During the French Revolution it was desecrated and served as the coronation of Napoleon in the early 1800s. It was later restored in 1845 where it still remains one of the finest standing cathedrals to this day.
2. Sagrada Familia
Culture: Spanish
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1882- 2028
Designed by: Antoni Gaudi
Archetural Style: Modernisme
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Significance: This unique design conceptulized by famed architect, Antoni Guadi, has become an iconic landmark of Barcelona. It demonstrates Spanish-Catalonian pride with it's fusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. It's highest spires stand nearly 500 feet tall and it is schedule to be completed in the year 2028. It is one of the most modern cathedrals built, and has quickly gained admiration for it's inspirational and extremely intricate design. I think it's a true wonder to behold, of which I hope to see with my own eyes some day.
1. Mount Saint Michael Abbey
Culture: French
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 709-966
Comissioned by: Bishop of Avrances requested by Archangel Michael (according to legend)
Architectural Style: Gothic
Location: Mount Saint Michael, Normandy, France
Significance: This incredible abbey is submerged within a mountain on an island, whose sole purpose is for it's small feudal society. The construction is like some sort of medieval fantasy castle, consisting of an abbey at the top, monastery, great halls, and housing at the bottom. Most of the islands inhabitants are monks, farmers, and fishermen. During the French Revolution it served as a prison and was later restored in the 1900s. This structure served as the inspiration behind JR Tolkien's glorious city of Minis Tirith in the classic novel Lord of the Rings. It is one of my favorite religious cathedrals.
My Top Ten Favorite Cathedrals
10. St. Pauls Cathedral
Culture: British
Denomination: Church of England
Date of Construction: 1675-1711
Designed by: Sir Christopher Wren
Architectural Style: English Baroque
Location: London, England
Significance: It was built with the major program in restoring the glory of London after the Great Fire of 1666. The lead architect Christopher Wren wanted to create something revolutionary a building that would dominate the London skyline for 300 years. Standing at 365 feet, it's dome is the highest in the world and it is the 2nd largest church in England. It serves as the center of the Church of England and has overseen many historic events such as the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher. It famously stood strong throughout the Nazi Blitz and was a point of celebration at the end of WWI and WWII.
9. Cologne CathedralCulture: German
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1248-1473; 1840-1880
Comissioned by:
Designed by:
Architectural Style: Gothic
Location: Cologne, Germany
Significance: It was first constructed in the 1200 middle ages, however the project was abandoned in the 1400. It was later resumed in the 1800s due to a growing sentiment of romanticism. At it's completion in 1880 it became not only the tallest cathedral ever built yet also the tallest standing structure built by man, standing at 474 feet. This lasted for four years until it was surpassed by the Washington Monument. To this day the cathedral remains one of the most visited destinations in Germany. It has a certain dark Gothic appeal to it.
8. Westminster Abbey
Culture: British
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 960-1090; 1245-1517
Commissioned by: King Edward the Confessor
Designed by: Henry Yevele
Architectural Style: Anglo-French Gothic Style
Location: London, England
Significance: It is one of the oldest and most famous cathedrals in Great Britain. Since 1066 every English monarch, except Edward V and Edward VIII have been crowned within it's walls. It was originally designed as a royal burial church for King Edward the Confessor yet later expanded to become England's greatest abbey. In the 18th century the design was furthered by the implementation of massive towers standing over 225 feet tall.
7. St. Peter's Basilica
Culture: Italian
Date of Construction: Roman CatholicComissioned by
Designed by:
Archiectural Style: Renaissance
Location: Vatican City, within Rome
Significance: It is the center of all Christianity, the church of churches where the pope resides. It is also the largest church in the world taking up an area of 21,000 meters. It's dome, pillars, and many sculptors are iconic representations of the Italian Renaissance. This church is a center of spiritual and artistic wonder.
6. Hagia Sophia
Culture: Turkish
Denomination: Eastern Orthodox
Date of Construction: 532-537
Commissioned by: Byzantine Emperor Justinian
Designed by: Isidore of Miletus
Architectural Style: Byzantine architecture
Location: Istanbul, TurkeySignificance: This religious monument has undergone many political and spiritual transformations since it first broke ground. It began as a monumental Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of Patriarch of Constantinople. However during the crusades it was converted into a Catholic cathedral for nearly 50 years. It was later converted into an Ottoman Mosque. It's design is most famous for it's dome and was the largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years until it was surpassed by the Seville Cathedral in 1520.
5. Saint Basil's Cathedral
Culture: Russian
Denomination: Eastern Orthodox
Date of Construction: 1555-1561Comissioned by: Ivan the Terrible
Architectural Style:
Location: Moscow, Russia
Significance: It has become one of the iconic momnuents of Russian culture. It is so unique, colorful, and majestic that it appears as some sort of fantasy toy facility. Yet instead it is a monumental cathedral comissioned by the tsar Ivan the Terrible to commemorate his military victories. It is artisticaly designed as a flame that is rising in the sky. It's unique conception and brilliant design has become one of Russia's most proudest cultural landmarks.
4. Santa Maria del Fiore
Culture: Italian
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1296-1436
Comissioned by:
Designed by: Arnolfo de CambioArchitecural Style: Renaissance
Location: Florence, Italy
Significance: This cathedral became one of the most groundbreaking architectural structures of the renaissance. It is one of the iconic structures in the city of Florence, Italy with it's orange brick rooftops. It's greatest architectural feat was it's domed roof, which at it's time was the largest dome in the world.
3. Notre Dame
Culture: French
Denomination: Roman Catholic
Date of Construction: 1163-1345
Architectural Style: Gothic
Location: Paris, FranceSignificance: It is one of the most famous cathedrals in existence and an iconic landmark in the artistic city of Paris. It is a defining examle of French Gothic architecture and utilizes original sculptures throughout it's design. The gargoyle statues are some of the best recognized feats of this structure. During the French Revolution it was desecrated and served as the coronation of Napoleon in the early 1800s. It was later restored in 1845 where it still remains one of the finest standing cathedrals to this day.
2. Sagrada Familia
Culture: Spanish
Denomination: Roman CatholicDate of Construction: 1882- 2028
Designed by: Antoni Gaudi
Archetural Style: Modernisme
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Significance: This unique design conceptulized by famed architect, Antoni Guadi, has become an iconic landmark of Barcelona. It demonstrates Spanish-Catalonian pride with it's fusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau styles. It's highest spires stand nearly 500 feet tall and it is schedule to be completed in the year 2028. It is one of the most modern cathedrals built, and has quickly gained admiration for it's inspirational and extremely intricate design. I think it's a true wonder to behold, of which I hope to see with my own eyes some day.
1. Mount Saint Michael Abbey
Culture: French
Date of Construction: 709-966
Comissioned by: Bishop of Avrances requested by Archangel Michael (according to legend)
Architectural Style: Gothic
Location: Mount Saint Michael, Normandy, France
Significance: This incredible abbey is submerged within a mountain on an island, whose sole purpose is for it's small feudal society. The construction is like some sort of medieval fantasy castle, consisting of an abbey at the top, monastery, great halls, and housing at the bottom. Most of the islands inhabitants are monks, farmers, and fishermen. During the French Revolution it served as a prison and was later restored in the 1900s. This structure served as the inspiration behind JR Tolkien's glorious city of Minis Tirith in the classic novel Lord of the Rings. It is one of my favorite religious cathedrals.
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