Monthly Archives: November 2018

The world’s most visited graveyard, it opened in 1804 and out of 800.000 people buried here, there are 69,000 ornate, often ostentatious tombs in a 44-hectare open-air sculpture garden. Some of the famous buried here are Chopin, the playwright Moliere, … Continue reading →

Until the 1800s most burials had taken place in church graveyards, but by the 1820s, these had become so overcrowded and unsanitary that a new solution had to be found. Outbreaks of cholera and typhoid made action more urgent. People … Continue reading →

I am glad I made the big detour to this Benedictine monastery consecrated as recently as 1957. The entire inside was painted over 7 years by Greek artists (all the script is in Greek). The nave is Old Testament with … Continue reading →

There are many great cathedrals in England: Salisbury, Ely, York Minster, Lincoln, and Durham, but I chose Norwich. This magnificent Anglican cathedral’s spire is higher than any in England except Salisbury’s and its cloisters must be the largest. The church … Continue reading →

The Rosario Oratory of Santa Cita is an oratory located in the historic centre of Palermo. It is located in Via Valverde in the La Loggia district, adjacent to the church of Santa Cita. The 17th-century building was founded by … Continue reading →

Designed to be a close copy of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, it is the largest basilica in the world. The dome is the largest in the world at 138m high, 2 meters taller than St Peter’s. On top is … Continue reading →

(1749-64). The vividly carved stone façade, splendid golden altar and roof with a riot of small plaster figures and colourful religious paintings are magnificent. Retablo on altarpiece  A Christmas concert was happening and I stood behind the four drummers for … Continue reading →

This is a popular stop for pilgrims travelling the Way of St. James to Santiago de Compostela. The main draw for medieval pilgrims at Conques was the remains of St. Foy, a young woman martyred during the fourth century. The … Continue reading →

This is a historic Carpenter Gothic-style Roman Catholic church located on a bluff overlooking the Mackenzie River in this tiny native community. Only 13.7 by 7.6m in size, it was built as a mission of the Oblate Fathers. Father Emile … Continue reading →

This church is called “the Wooden Cathedral”, unique in the world. The first church was built in the 12th century, again in 1680 and the present church in 1723. The church is unique in its architecture, resembling a cathedral although it … Continue reading →