BARCELONA: TEMPLET EXPIATORI DEL SAGRAT COR
..or Temple of the sacred heart of Jesus is a neogothic Catholic Church looking down on Barcelona from the city’s tallest peak, Mount Tibidabo – about 500 metres above the sea. The local legend says that this is the spot where Jesus where tempted by the devil for the first time. The church is designed by Enric Sagnier and took about 60 years to built, the Jesus-sculpture on top is made by artist Josep Miret Llopart. A funicolar takes you up to this amazing spot in the clouds. I’m not very religious, not at all to be correct. But this church really amazes me. And when you’re done looking at the beautiful artwork inside – go out and take a spin at the amusement park right next door.
PARIS: NOTRE DAME
…or Our Lady – ”the House of God and the abode of men”. I guess no one has missed out on the news that this magnificent building jewel of medieval gothic architecture was caught on fire yesterday (April 15th 2019) – due to construction works. Part go the church spire collapsed. But no worries big amounts of cash has already been donated by powerful men, mostly from the fashion industry so it can be rebuilt.
MILAN: DUOMO DI MILANO
…or Milan Cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente. The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete and is the largest one in Italy (well St Peters Basilica in the state of Vatican city is actually bigger but the Vatican is not legally a part of Italy). This church really is a piece of art, no wonder it took so many years to built it! Best seen from one of the outdoor servings with champagne and strawberries. Can you spot the golden Madonna on top?
VATICAN CITY: BASILICA PAPALE DI SAN PIETRO IN VATICANO
…or simply St Peters Basilica. The architecture on the outside isn’t the most impressive compared to other cathedrals and churches – despite that its HUGE. I believe its the largest church in the world due to the amount of people that can fit in there at the same time. When you entering the holy doors – WOW. Especially the famous art by Michelangelo (The Sistine Chapel). At my visit there a couple of years ago I also had the opportunity to see the pope himself for the first time in my life, driving around in his bullet proof car.
…St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral this is the most important Orthodox cathedral in Bulgaria. You will get impressed by the grand architecture and the golden details. I promise. Brief history: After the end of the Russian-Turkish War in the end of 1800th the Bulgarians wanted to build a monument to all the brave men (both Bulgarians and Russians) who fought and died for the liberation of the country. Saint Alexander Nevsky was the personal patron-saint of the Emperor Alexander II of Russia. There’s 22 cathedrals and 4 churches dedicated to him around the world.
BONUS: SAGRADA FAMILIA
The never ending story a la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
