VirtualGlobetrotting: World's Largest Churches

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St. Peter’s Basilica
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Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida
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Seville Cathedral
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The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See (Catedral de Santa María de la Sede), AKA the Seville Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral designated in 1987 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the adjoining Alcázar palace complex and the General Archive of the Indies. It's the 4th-largest church in the world and the largest Gothic church.

Cathedral of St. John The Divine
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By: Mojave.

Duomo - Milan
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By: kjfitz.
The Duomo, Milan's cathedral, is one of the largest churches in the world; is a surprisingly elegant mass of marble boasting 135 spires and 3,400 statues. Commissioned in 1386, by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the Duomo was not finished until the early 1800s. The building began life as a Gothic cathedral, but over the centuries the designs went through several modifications, and the finished Duomo is a strange mixture of styles.

Basilica of Santa Giustina
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Not far are the abbey and the basilica of Santa Giustina, which is home to important art works, including the Martyrdom of St. Justine by Paolo Veronese. The complex was founded in the 5th century on the tomb of the namesake saint, Justine of Padua, and in the 15th century became one of the most important monasteries in the area, until it was suppressed by Napoleon in 1810. In 1919 it was reopened. The tombs of several saints are housed in the interior, including those of Justine, St. Prosdocimus, St. Maximus, St. Urius, St. Felicita, St. Julianus, as well as relics of the Apostle St. Matthias and the Evangelist St. Luke.

"Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń" by Barbara Bielecka
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The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń is a Roman Catholic church located in the village of Licheń Stary near Konin in the Greater Poland Voivodeship in Poland. It was designed by Barbara Bielecka and built between 1994 and 2004. The construction was funded entirely by pilgrims' donations.
With the central nave 98 meters tall, 120 meters long and 77 meters wide, and with a tower 141.5 metres tall, it is Poland's largest church and one of the largest churches in the world. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows whose icon, dating back to the 18th century, is displayed in the basilica's main altar. It is one of Poland's principal pilgrimage sites.

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
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The largest Anglican Cathedral in the world.

Church of the Santíssima Trindade
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Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
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Saint Paul's Outside the Walls (Basilica Papale di San Paolo fuori le Mura) is one of Rome's 4 major papal basilicas, along with the basilicas of Saint John in the Lateran, Saint Peter's, and Saint Mary Major, as well as one of the 7 Pilgrim Churches of Rome.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
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Florence Cathedral & Giotto's Campanile
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The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (English: Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower) is the main church of Florence, Italy. Il Duomo di Firenze, as it is ordinarily called, was begun in 1296 in the Gothic style to the design of Arnolfo di Cambio and completed structurally in 1436 with the dome engineered by Filippo Brunelleschi.

Ulm Minster (tallest church in the world)
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By: DonMartini.
Ulm Münster is a cathedral and the tallest church in the world, its steeple measuring 161.53 m (530') high and containing 768 steps. Located in Ulm, Germany, it is an outstanding example of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture. It has dominated Ulm and the surrounding region for hundreds of years with its 161-metre-tall spire. After climbing the 768 steps to the top there is superb panoramic view of Baden-Württemberg's Ulm and Bavaria's Neu-Ulm and, in the right weather conditions, a vista of the Alpine range from Säntis to the Zugspitze.
This architectural masterpiece houses many famous artworks. The 15th century choir stalls by Jörg Syrlin the Elder enjoy world-wide acclaim, in particular the carved busts which have gone down as masterpieces in the history of art. Among the other works of distinction in the Münster are Hans Multscher's Man of Sorrows on the main portal and the pulpit canopy by Jörg Syrlin the Younger, as well as the altar and window in the chancel.
Work on the Ulm Citizen's Church began in 1377, financed by the city's inhabitants. There was then a very long period with no further building, even when the church became protestant during the reformation. The building was finally completed in 1890 with the addition of the spire.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart
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By: DonMartini.
When standing on one of the hills surrounding the center of Brussels, one can always see the dome of the Basilica in Western direction.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart (situated in the Suburb of Koekelberg) is labeled "the national Basilica of Belgium". It was built to remember the 75th anniversary of the Belgian independence.
In 1905 king Leopold II laid the first stone. According to the plans of architect LANGEROCK it was to become a gigantic neo-gothic church. The initial plans were stopped at the beginning of World War I. Only in 1919 the construction would continue. However, by then the developers had changed their plans and architect. A new architect, called VAN NUFFEL, was asked to construct a modern prayerhouse. To the people of Brussels and Belgium it seemed that the Basilica would never be finished. Moreover, the construction of the church depended entirely on donations made by believers and these donations did not always yield the expected funds. The church was eventually finished in the late 1960's with the construction of a dome and dedicated to the war victories of 1918 and 1944.
The interior decoration is in 1930's Art Deco style with use of marble. Since March 1997 visitors can climb into the dome of the Basilica from where one can have a beautiful panorama over Brussels and its surrounding area.

Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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By: dpegna.
Site of Roman Catholic reverancia
Where you found "Our Lady of Guadalupe"
Second sanctuary more visited by religious peregrinations in the world after of Mecca.

Cathedral of Our Lady
Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal (OLV-KATH), the Cathedral of Our Lady, Antwerp, was started in 1351 and, although the first stage of construction was ended in 1521, has never been 'completed'. In Gothic style, its architects were Jan and Pieter Appelmans. It contains a number of significant works by painter, Rubens. Its spire is 123 m high.

Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian
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Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Sebastian (Catedral de São Sebastião). To the south of Largo da Carioca, is the modern Cathedral (1964-76), which can accommodate a congregation of 20,000.

Basilica of Our Lady of Peace
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The largest church in the world, built from 1985 to 1989 by order of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny in his home town, which became the official capital of Ivory Coast in 1983. Consecrated in 1990 by Pope John Paul II.

Hagia Sophia
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By: Hinkkanen.
The Church of the Holy Wisdom, commonly known as Hagia Sophia in English, is a former Eastern Orthodox church converted to a mosque, now converted into a museum, in Istanbul (Constantinople). It is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest buildings of the world and sometimes considered the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Basilica di San Petronio & Piazza Maggiore
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By: kjfitz.
Pictures
Named after the city’s patron saint, the Basilica of St Petronius is Bologna’s largest house of worship and dominates Piazza Maggiore with its imposing pockmarked façade. Begun in 1392, the basilica was originally intended to be larger than St Peter’s in Rome. Plans came to a halt, however, when the pope refused permission for such a grandiose scheme. The unfinished façade stares across the Piazza like a jilted bride, her rosy complexion topped by a heavy frown of bare brick. Carvings in the central door, depicting scenes from the Old and New testaments, are by Sienese artist Jacopo della Quercia. Inside, a brass meridian in the floor of the north aisle forms an ingenious solar clock – a small hole in the roof allows the sun to shine on the correct spot. Tradition has it that when the sun’s rays fall in the shape of a heart, it is time to seek a husband.

Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom)
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By: neotrix.
The Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom, official name Hohe Domkirche St. Peter und Maria) is one of the best-known architectural monuments in Germany and has been Cologne's most famous landmark since its completion in the late 19th century. The cathedral is under the administration of the Roman Catholic Church and is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne. From 1880, when its spires were completed, it was the world's tallest structure, losing its title on the completion of the Washington Monument in Washington DC, 1884. Cologne Cathedral remains the second-tallest Gothic structure in the world; only the steeple of the Ulm Münster is higher.
Construction of the gothic church began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, more than 600 years to complete - it was finally finished in 1880. The two towers are 157m tall, the cathedral is 144m long and 86m wide. The cathedral is dedicated to Saints Peter and Mary.
It was built on the site of a 4th century Roman temple, a square edifice known as the 'oldest cathedral' and commissioned by Maternus, the first Christian bishop of Cologne. A second church built on the site, the so-called "Old Cathedr

Saint Paul's Cathedral
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Washington National Cathedral
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Amiens cathedral
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Amiens Cathedral has played an important role in the development of gothic architecture. It dates from the 13th century.
Work was started in 1220, under Bishop Evrard de Fouilloy. The architects involved were Robert de Luzarches (until 1228), Thomas de Cormont (until 1258), and his son Renaud de Cormont (until 1288).

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
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The largest Roman Catholic church in the Western hemisphere.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (La Plata)
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Saint Joseph's Oratory
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Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal, is a Roman Catholic basilica on the northern slope of Mount Royal in Montreal.

"Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral" by Claudio de Arciniega
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By: kkeps.
The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María) is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Americas and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico. It is situated atop the former Aztec sacred precinct near the Templo Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la Constitución in downtown Mexico City. The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlán, eventually replacing it entirely. Spanish architect Claudio de Arciniega planned the construction, drawing inspiration from Gothic cathedrals in Spain.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims
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The Notre-Dame de Reims (Our Lady of Rheims) is the Cathedral of Reims, where the kings of France were once crowned. It replaces an older church, which was destroyed by a fire in 1211 and built on the site of the basilica, where Clovis was baptized by Saint Rémy, bishop of Reims, in AD 496. The cathedral was completed by the end of the 13th century, with the exception of the west front. That portion was erected in the 14th century after 13th century designs—the nave having in the meantime been lengthened to afford room for the crowds that attended the coronations. The towers, which are 81 m (approx. 267 feet) tall, were originally designed to rise 120 m (approx. 394 feet). The southern tower contains two great bells; one of them, named “Charlotte” by the cardinal of Lorraine in 1570, weighs more than 10,000 kg (approx. 11 tons).

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg
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'Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels' by José Rafael Moneo
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'Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church' by Renzo Piano
2004

Bourges Cathedral
Construction on Bourges Cathedral began on in 1195, the same time as Chartres Cathedral. The choir was completed by 1214 and the nave was completed in 1225-1250. The west façade was finished in 1270. The architect was Paul-Louis Boeswillwald and the master builder was Philippe Berruyer.
The cathedral's nave is 15m wide by 37m high; its arcade is 20m high; the inner aisle is 21.3m and the outer aisle is 9.3m high. The use of flying buttresses was employed to help the structure of the building. However, since this was a fairly new technique, one can easily see the walls were still made quite thick to take the force. Six part ribbed vaults are used to hold up the vault.
The cathedral was added to the list of the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1992.

Esztergom basilica
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By: hhgygy.
As seen from Mária Valéria Bridge approaching the HU-SK border.

Notre Dame de Paris
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Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudí
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família , often simply called the Sagrada Família, is a massive Roman Catholic church under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and continues to this day.

Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
The temple was constructed on a vow given by sovereign Alexander I in gratitude for saving fatherland "from the Gauls invasion".

Neuer Dom - New Cathedral
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By: hhgygy.

Westminster Cathedral
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St. Mary church in Gdańsk
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St. Mary church in Gdańsk (kościół Mariacki w Gdańsku), one of the largest brick churches in the world, built from the 13th to 15th cent.

Tbilisi Sameba Cathedral
The Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral commonly known as Sameba (Georgian: სამება for Trinity) is the main Georgian Orthodox Christian cathedral, located in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Constructed between 1995 and 2004, it is one of the largest religious buildings in Georgia and the South Caucasus.

Winchester Cathedral
The Cathedral is dedicated to St Swithin. He was a Bishop of Winchester and pilgrims came from far and wide to visit his shrine. St Swithin's day is July 15 and it is said that if it rains on this day it will rain for the next 40 days.

Dresden Cathedral

Taal Basilica (largest church in Asia)
The Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours (Filipino: Basilika Minor ni San Martin ng Tours; Spanish: Basílica Menor de San Martín de Tours), is a minor basilica in the town of Taal, Batangas, within the Archdiocese of Lipa. It's considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 88.6 m long and 48 m wide. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of Taal, whose feast is celebrated every November 11.

Ely Cathedral
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Cathedral Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche)
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The Frauenkirche (full name Dom zu unserer lieben Frau, "Cathedral of Our Blessed Lady") is the largest church in the Bavarian capital of Munich. Located in the city center at Frauenplatz 1, the Catholic cathedral is a major landmark and a popular tourist attraction.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
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By: tlp333.
This is one of the most ornate and beautiful places in St. Louis. Pope John Paul II gave mass here in his only ever visit to the city back in .

St Isaac's Cathedral
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By: Hinkkanen.
St Isaac's Cathedral (1818–1858), is the largest church in St.Petersburg and one of the biggest domed buildings in the world, constructed for 40 years under supervision of its architect, Auguste de Montferrand.

St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral
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Completed in September 2001 in time for the celebration of the 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia.

Cathedral of Saint Sava
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Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the early 20th century in memory of the 200,000 Russian soldiers, who died in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-1878, which led to the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule.

Westminster Abbey
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Medak Cathedral

Our Lady of Dolours Syro-Malabar Catholic Basilica

Basilica of St. John the Baptist

All Saints Cathedral, Halifax

Duomo di Ferrara
A little way southeast of the Castello in Ferrara rises the cathedral, with a magnificent facade in Lombard Romanesque style (12th-14th century); it contains pictures by artists of the Ferrara school; near the altar are two 15th century bronze statues (St Maurelius and St Georg); in the transept are busts of the apostles, and a very fine painting of "Mary with the Saints".

Sint-Jan Cathedral
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