Greatness, high cultural value and absolutely stunning architecture make this church one of the most sought-after destinations while in Rome.   This magnificent building is the center of Christianity. The opulence of its interior testifies the richness of the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century. Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, ordered the construction of St. Peter Basilica on the Vatican hill. The location was chosen symbolically, on the spot where St. Peter, one of the apostles, was buried in AD 64. A small shrine already existed on the site, but it was replaced with a church which would be com...

While discovering and exploring Venice, it is impossible to not notice the grandeur and beauty of this church rising on the shore of Grand Channel.    On one of the banks of Grand Channel, in the seventeenth century, one of the most beautiful churches in Venice, Santa Maria della Salute, was built. A symbolic image of the floating city, it appears in many documentaries about the Venetian architecture but also in many paintings made by famous artists such as Michele Marieschi, Francesco Guardi, John Singer Sargent, Walter Sickert and, of course, Canaletto.    After the plague of 1630, which is said to have ki...

  Designed to be the world's largest cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore is nowadays surpassed in size by St. Peter in the Vatican, St. Paul's Cathedral in London and Milan. It was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296, as the Florentines desired to have a place of prayer more beautiful than those of Pisa and Siena, rival cities; it was built on the ruins of an old church, Santa Reparata. When it was finished, it was the largest cathedral in Europe of that era, being able to accommodat...

Words are quite useless when describing this piece of art. The proof is the millions of tourists who come to visit this church while in Venice.    The Basilica di San Marco is the most famous church from Venice and one of the best examples of Byzantine architecture. It is located in Piazza San Marco. Originally the church was a chapel for the Venetian rulers. Since 1807, it has been the sanctuary of the Patriarch of Venice. Thanks to its opulent form, decorated with Byzantine mosaics, and due to its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, has been also called The Golden Church (Chiesa d'Oro). &n...

  Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, shortly Milan Cathedral or Duomo di Milan, is situated in Piazza del Duomo and it is the third largest church of Christianity (surpassed only by St. Peter in Rome and the Cathedral of Seville). The Duomo is no doubt a delight for the eyes of every tourist. Although most of the key elements of the Duomo were complete by 1391, the construction lasted almost 500 years to be carried out. Some maintenance and reconstruction work is currently taking pl...

One of the main attractions of Rome, this church attracts countless tourists anually due to its beauty, imposing structure and great value.    Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is an authentic jewel full of beauty of inestimable value. For about 16 centuries it dominates the city of Rome: Marian temple par excellence and the cradle of art, is a reference point for all people of the world, coming to enjoy what the eternal city offers through its monumental greatness. Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four main churches in Rome, built in 352 after Christ and dedicated to St. Mary. The shrine was built after...

  The Papal Archbasilica of St. John Laterano or Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano in Italian is the cathedral of the Church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. It is the oldest and ranks first among the four Papal Basilicas or major basilicas of Rome. It has the title of ecumenical mother church -mother church of the whole inhabited world -among Roman Catholics; this means that in the Catholic hierarchy, this church is ...

  Cathedral or Duomo of Orvieto is the main attraction of the town and its most remarkable feature. The building is located in the heart of the city on a hill and it is visible from miles away. The construction of Orvieto Cathedral started in 1290, under the supervision of Pope Nicholas IV. The construction was attended by 33 architects, of which the most important is Lorenzo Maitani, 150 sculptors, 70 painters and 90 specialists in mosaic. Sculptural works show scenes from the Old ...

  Trastevere, Rome's oldest neighborhood, is one of the most beautiful areas in the city, unforgettable both during day and night visits. Located on the other side of the river Tiber, the neighborhood is one of the most picturesque of Rome, with its narrow cobbled streets lined by medieval houses. With its  crooked and narrow streets, houses covered with ivy, tiny restaurants and noisy taverns, large piazzas, ice-cold water fountains and bohemian artists who fascinate you on th...

  Siena is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. Surrounded by orchards, olive groves and vineyards, the city is going back into Italy's medieval past. According to historical documents discovered by archaeologists, the city was founded by the Romans in 30 AD. One of the most beautiful attractions here is the cathedral, or duomo.     With an impressive height, the cathedral attracts through the successful combination of marble both outside...

  Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls (Italian: Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura) is one of the four churches that are the great ancient major basilicas or papal basilicas of Rome which are the basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Maria Maggiore, and St. Peter and Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Unlike all the rest, it stands outside the Aurelian walls in the southern part of the Eternal City. In 1980 it entered the World Heritage List.     I...

  Santa Maria del Popolo is located in Piazza del Popolo, in the center of Rome, near the Villa Borghese Park. The church and the area got its name from the word populous, which means village, as on this place there was a village here in the Middle Ages. The interior of the church is filled with priceless works of art and it is famous due to the magnificent ceilings and murals done in Renaissance style, performed by such great masters as Pinturicchio, Raphael, Carracci, Caravaggio a...

  The church is located in Piazza della Minerva, close to Pantheon, and it is considered the only Gothic church in Rome. Here there are the tombs of St. Catherine of Siena and great Dominican painter Fra Angelico.      Founded in the seventh century, the name of the basilica comes from the fact that it was built directly over “sopra” (in Italian) the foundations of a temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis, but mistakenly a...

  San Pietro in Vincoli (“in vincoli”-“in chains” in Italian) was built on the ruins of an ancient temple dating from the 3rd century  in 432-440 to house the relic of the chains that bound Saint Peter when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem. The Empress Eudoxia, who was the wife of Emperor Valentinian III received them as a gift from her mother, who respectively received them from Iuvenalis, bishop of Jerusalem; the former presented the chains to Pope Leo I...

  Basilica Santa Croce is located in the very heart of Florence and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions here. It is the greatest Franciscan Gothic church in Florence, famous for its frescoes by Giotto and tombs of the greatest personalities of Italy such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Rossini.     Basilica of Santa Croce is notable primarily for its architectural plan, in Gothic style, as well as its unique pieces of art kep...

  Milan's beauty is already legendary, but there is another tourist attraction in its area that adventurous tourists should not miss: Certosa di Pavia. Certosa is a 14th century monastery. The gothic architecture of the monastery is extraordinary, both on the outside and inside, but what will attract your attention is the sacristy built in 1409. All cathedrals have sacristy where sacred vessels used at Holy Communion and other valuables are kept, but what makes it special for this o...