The most beautiful cathedrals in major European cities

 The most beautiful cathedrals in major European cities

Few factors played such an important role as Christianity in European architecture. 

Over hundreds and hundreds of years, kings, pontiffs, and nobles used countless resources to erect cathedrals and churches that still stand today, which we can say are undoubtedly some of the most impressive structures ever built in this part of the world.

In almost every European city, there is a stunning cathedral that deserves to be included in your European travel itinerary. But if we had to choose the most impressive of them, it would probably be the following:

Sagrada Familia - Barcelona (Spain) .

The construction of the Sagrada Familia in the capital of Catalonia began in 1882 and continues today. Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, the iconic building has attracted much controversy and acclaim over the years. 

The cathedral includes 18 sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing the Twelve Apostles, the Four Evangelists, Saint Mary, and Jesus Christ. When asked about the reason for the long construction period, Gaudí replied: “My client is in no hurry.” However, the construction is estimated to be completed in 2026 when the centenary of the engineer's death will be celebrated.

Notre Dame - Paris (France).

Located on the Parisle de la Cité on the Seine River, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its construction began in the early years of the twelfth century, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in the ancient continent. This cathedral has witnessed countless events in history, such as the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte.

A large part of it was consumed by fire on April 15, 2019. Notre Dame Cathedral is visited by about 13 million tourists annually or approximately 30,000 people per day. Unfortunately, the fire caused so much damage to the structure that it would take many years to restore Notre Dame to the way it was.

Church of Santa Maria del Fiore - Florence (Italy).

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Rosary was built between 1296 and 1436. Its name refers to the purple flower, which is a symbol of Florence. Located in Piazza del Duomo, the cathedral complex includes the Baptistery of Saint John the Baptist, said to be the oldest building in the city, and Giotto's tower. 

Because of its architecture, importance, and size (the second largest church in Italy), the cathedral has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the largest dome in the world until the contemporary development of new structural materials that allowed for the erection of even larger domes. However, it is the largest brick dome ever built.

Dome Church in Milan (Italy).

Italy is full of impressive churches and cathedrals, and one of them is the huge domed church in Milan. You can spend hours admiring the grand marble façade and intricate carvings on the building's exterior, before even setting foot inside, where you'll find impressive stained glass windows.

With all its ornate details, it is not surprising that this church was only completed in the 19th century after its construction had begun in 1396.

St. Basil's Cathedral - Moscow (Russia).

Vasile Blessed's Cathedral, also called Saint Vasile Blajeni's Cathedral, is located on Red Square in the Russian capital and was built between 1555 and 1561 by order of Ivan the Terrible in gratitude for the Russian army's victory over the Tatars in Kazan. 

Its design is similar to that of flames pointing to the sky and is completely unique in one of the most important buildings of Russian architecture. Since 1928 the cathedral is associated with the Moscow State Historical Museum, and since 1990 it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.