Milan Cathedral is located in the capital of the Lombardy Region in the north of Italy. The current cathedral was built in the same location as the original cathedral which was completed in the 4th century, and the entire city was built around this central site. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Nancy Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l’Annonciation et Saint-Sigisbert; Cathedral of Our Lady of the Annunciation and St. Sigisbert) is a Roman Catholic church located in the town of Nancy, Lorraine, France.
King Sigebert III of Austrasia was laid to rest here. Declared a saint later, the cathedral became a pilgrimage site. The cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Virgin and him.
Naples Cathedral (Duomo di Napoli) or or the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary
13th Century
Architecture
Naples Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral, the main church of Naples, southern Italy. It is widely known as the Cathedral of Saint Januarius (Cattedrale di San Gennaro), in honour of the city's patron saint. The present cathedral was commissioned by King Charles I of Anjou. Construction continued during the reign of his successor, Charles II (1285–1309) and was completed in the early 14th century under Robert of Anjou. It was built on the foundations of two palaeo-Christian basilicas, whose traces can still be clearly seen. Underneath the building excavations have revealed Greek and Roman artifacts.
Nice Cathedral (Basilique-Cathédrale Sainte-Marie et Sainte-Réparate de Nice) is a Catholic cathedral located in the city of Nice in southern France.
The construction of the main part of the current cathedral's body started in 1650 and finished in 1685. Further construction continued after its consecration in 1699, with new structures and decorative elements added to the cathedral until 1949. The cathedral is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Reparata.
Notre-Dame de Reims meaning "Our Lady of Reims") known in English as Reims Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the French city of the same name. The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was the traditional location for the coronation of the kings of France. Reims Cathedral is considered to be one of the most important pieces of Gothic architecture anywhere.
The most famous Catholic cathedral in the world, Notre Dame (Our Lady of Paris) sits on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine River.
Over time, the cathedral has gradually been stripped of many decorations and artworks. However, the cathedral still contains Gothic, Baroque, and 19th-century sculptures, 17th- and early 18th-century altarpieces, and some of the most important relics in Christendom – including the Crown of Thorns, and a sliver and nail from the True Cross.
Founded as a Jesuit church and built between 1613 and 1621, Notre-Dame Cathedral stands today as the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Luxembourg City. In fact, it’s the only cathedral in the entire country.
Architects:
Master Robert, Master Bernard and Master Soeiro
1139 - early 13th Century
Architecture
The Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra) is a Romanesque Roman Catholic building in Portugal. Construction began some time after the Battle of Ourique (1139), when Prince Afonso Henriques declared himself King of Portugal and chose Coimbra as capital.
Oliwa, Gdańsk Archcathedral is a church in Oliwa, Gdańsk, Poland that is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Also known as the Archcathedral Basilica of the Holy Trinity in Oliwa, Gdańsk
Orléans Cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans) is a Roman Catholic church located in the city of Orléans, France. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Orléans.
Palermo Cathedral is the largest Norman cathedral in Sicily. The area where Palermo Cathedral now stands has always been a sacred place for the inhabitants of the area. In early Christian times, there was a sanctuary here and in the 4th century a basilica, which was destroyed in 452 during the Vandal invasion. It was rebuilt between 590 and 604 but, following the Muslim conquest of Sicily, the building was turned into a mosque. After the Arabs’ defeat, it became a Catholic place of worship again and was enlarged to include two additional chapels. In 1169, however, an earthquake severely damaged the basilica, which was later rebuilt during the reign of William II. Over the course of several centuries, Palermo Cathedral underwent several changes but always maintained its structure.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma, more commonly referred to as La Seu, is a Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral located in Palma, Mallorca, Spain, built on the site of a pre-existing Arab mosque.
Designed in the Catalan Gothic style but with Northern European influences, it was begun by King James I of Aragon in 1229 and finished in 1601.
When we think of Christian architecture, we may picture towering cathedrals with intricate stained-glass windows, but the roots of this style are much more humble. The earliest Christian structures were not grand, but rather simple house churches. As Christianity grew, its places of worship grew in size and intricacy.
The transition from early Christian to medieval architecture paralelled societal and religious changes. The Romanesque style, characterized by its rounded arches and massive walls, was followed by the Gothic style with its pointed archs, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.
Christian architecture has created some of the world’s most iconic structures. These buildings all share a common thread: they are physical manifestations of the Christian faith.
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