Since ancient times, temples have been one of the most beautiful architectural structures intended for worship of gods, rituals and religious sacrifices. The location of the temples, their size and shape are very diverse.
Beauty is one of the most abstract and subjective concepts, but there are such things in the world that no man can argue with the monumental beauty. One of these “things” are temples. We present you the top 10 most beautiful temples in the world with photos and descriptions.
10. Crystal Cathedral, USA
The highest value in terms of cultural attractions is the most ancient religious buildings, miraculously preserved to this day. But at the same time, one cannot ignore the "collaboration" of religion and the latest trends in architecture.
The product of this synthesis is the Crystal Cathedral in California. It was built relatively recently - in the 80s of the 20th century. The church consists entirely of several thousand glass blocks and looks like a four-pointed crystal star.
9. Taj Mahal, India
An architectural masterpiece of the Muslim world. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum-mosque that combines elements of Persian, Islamic and Indian styles. During the construction, translucent marble was used, which creates the famous effect of multi-colored illumination at different times of the day.
Also, frescoes and various inlays of precious and semi-precious stones - malachite, agate, carnelian and others - amaze with their beauty.
8. Las Lajas, Colombia
Las Lajas is the most visited cathedral in Colombia, both by local Catholic parishioners and by numerous tourists. The "highlight" of the church is its incredibly beautiful location - the building is located directly on the bridge over the Guaitara River.
The history of this cathedral is “legendary”: as described in some sources, earlier on the site of the church there was a cave, about which there was a bad reputation. And then one day a woman with a deaf-mute daughter passed through her, and a miracle happened: the Mother of God healed the girl, and her mother, as a token of gratitude, painted a portrait of the Mother of God on the wall.
7. St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia
It would be a crime not to mention Russian Orthodox churches in our ranking. St. Basil's Cathedral is a visiting card of Russia, the most recognizable place in Moscow.
It is he who flaunts on all Moscow souvenirs, so it is very difficult not to recognize him. The cathedral is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
6. Sagrada Familia, Spain
The famous cathedral of the great Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, which has already become a hallmark of Spain. These grandiose towers, reminiscent of corn cobs, are already known to every tourist. An interesting fact: under the leadership of Gaudi, this temple was built for 40 years, but it is still not completed. According to some reports, the construction should be completed by 2026, but local residents have already called it the "Cathedral that will never be completed."
There are a great many versions explaining the reason why the church has not yet been completed.Someone says that the lack of funds for construction is to blame, and someone explains this by the complexity and duration of the process of making stone blocks, which create the bizarre shape of the temple.
5. Church of Paraportiani, Greece
There are 365 churches on the Greek island of Mykonos, but the most beautiful of them is Paraportiani. The subtle beauty of these ancient white buildings is enhanced by the clear blue of the Greek sky and the azure of the sea.
This temple is not decorated with frescoes, stones and icons, but this only gives it a special holiness and religious rigor. It is believed that it was this church with its streamlined forms that inspired Gaudi to create architectural masterpieces.
4. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican
St. Peter's Basilica is rightfully considered the largest Christian church in the world: it can accommodate more than 60 thousand people. At the same time, it is the largest central building of the Vatican. Legendary is not only the temple itself, but also the adjacent square, designed by the Italian architect Bernini.
In addition to him, such great artists and architects as Raphael and Michelangelo took part in the planning of the church. Inside the cathedral there is a huge number of sculptures, statues and altars, which together create an incomparable harmony.
3. Notre Dame de Paris, France
Notre Dame de Paris or Notre Dame Cathedral is the most famous architectural structure in France after the Eiffel Tower. This cathedral is ranked among the five most popular pilgrimage centers, which is quite understandable: it contains the most important Christian relic - the Crown of Thorns of Jesus Christ.
The cathedral gained its fame, among other things, thanks to the famous work of the same name by Victor Hugo, which tells about the beautiful Esmeralda and the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
2. Hagia Sophia, Turkey
At one time, the Hagia Sophia combined a mosque and an Orthodox church, but today it houses a museum. Hagia Sophia is an ancient temple in Istanbul, which amazes with its grandeur of scale, rich decoration and luxury.
The synthesis of cultures is reflected in the architecture of the building: on its walls you can find not only Orthodox images, but also quotes from the Koran.
1. Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Israel
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the greatest and most important shrine of the entire Christian world. This large religious complex is divided into several denominations: Ethiopian, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Coptic and Syrian.
This is the so-called Christian "Mecca", which gathers pilgrims from all over the world. It is in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher that the Miracle of the Descent of the Holy Fire is performed every year on Easter.
Faith in God pushed the greatest artists to create masterpieces of architecture that have become the legacy of our civilization. As a non-religious person, you are unlikely to feel the divine, magical atmosphere of the temple, but this does not mean that this world of beauty is closed to you.
The beauty of the temple has just incredible power, it is able to take root deep into our subconscious, changing it, making us feel this world in a different way.