World's Most Stunning Cathedrals & Basilicas (PHOTOS)

On at least this one point, believers and atheists can likely agree: many of the world's sacred structures are truly works of architectural beauty.

From Turkey's Hagia Sophia to Poland's Wawel Catherdral to St. Peter's in Vatican City, the historical devotion to religion is demonstrated in the beautiful cathedrals and basilicas found throughout the globe. Though several of the oldest structures are now secular, many still operate as houses of worship and typically rank among their home city's best architectural treasures.

Here's a look at 13 of the world's most stunning cathedrals and basilicas. And be sure to tell us which ones you feel were overlooked in the comments.

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St. Basil's -- Russia

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Located on Moscow's Red Square, St. Basil's is said to be designed to resemble a bonfire's flames.

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Located on Moscow's Red Square, St. Basil's is said to be designed to resemble a bonfire's flames.

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StarDagger said on 14 Saturday 2010 pm31 1:52 pm: Ulm, duh. And Chartres, double duh.

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Most Divine Cathedral

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Profane Divine

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Most Stunning Places Of Worship

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Most Stunning Places Of Worship

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Comments

[Brainstormy]

12:28 PM on 09/13/2010

Lovely colossal monuments to superstition through the ages. If God didn't have such a shakey ego all that money, time, talent, material, and space could have been put to better use.

[ptrgamb]

01:50 PM on 09/11/2010

Seeing La Sagrada Familia was a real highlight for me.
I also agree with the NYer who says John the Divine is more impressive than St. Pat's. Heck, St. Bart's on Park Avenue is also more impressive than St. Pat's.

[markpkessinger]

04:46 PM on 08/20/2010

I notice they mention St. Patrick's, in NYC. Although it is certainly probably the most famous cathedral in New York, in terms of being "most stunning" as the headline suggests, I would argue that the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan, far surpasses St. Pat's on that score.

[rsheeran]

01:16 PM on 08/20/2010

Westminister? I can't believe this list does not have Westminister?

[MuchMadness]

04:58 PM on 08/21/2010

I don't think that Westminster Abbey is technically a cathedral, and it is not a basilica either.
I don't know how the Church of England classifies churches, but Westminster is apparently something called a collegiate church. The governors are a dean and some people who hold the title of canon, but there is no bishop stationed there, so it is not a cathedral. It's not technically an abbey anymore either, despite the name.

[rsheeran]

06:45 AM on 08/23/2010

OK, thank you. I appreciate the information.

[freshofftheboat]

02:14 PM on 08/19/2010

I'd also suggest The Cathedral of our Lady in Antwerp, Belgium. Its construction began in the 14th century, and it is absolutely stunning and a true landmark, plus full of remarkable historic artwork. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Our_Lady_(Antwerp)

[yidkid]

11:22 PM on 08/18/2010

Waiting for "World's Most Stunning Synogogues"...but won't hold my breath waiting for them here on HP!

[jourdankr]

11:42 AM on 08/18/2010

I would also suggest the Duomo cathedral in Milan.

[Kirk59]

11:25 AM on 08/20/2010

Absolutely! Also what about St. Mark's in Venice? No US cathedral should be on this list. To make the list you need to be very old. The one in Seville is the largest and should also be on the list.

[PJSJ22]

12:20 PM on 08/20/2010

I completely agree! That said, out of the list, I've only been to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York and the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal. With the Notre Dame Basilica, I can definitely see why Celine Dion had her wedding there. The interior is stunning.

[TomJoad1965]

10:17 AM on 08/18/2010

During WW2 the allies used the Cologne Cathedral as the aiming point to drop the bombs on Cologne.

[GonzoBrawler]

07:02 AM on 08/18/2010

I mean no disrespect to religous people or anyone, but St. Basils looks like something you would see at Disney World.

[yavuz]

05:52 PM on 08/17/2010

although big and bulky, these gothic cathedrals are architecturally second rate. since europeans could not make big arches such as those found in hagia sofia, selimiye or suleymaniye, they had to use windows minimally which made the interior dark and gloomy. thats why the structures look like bunch of towers pushed side by side, the lack of arches...

[mamacat]

07:45 PM on 08/17/2010

While the cathedrals built during the Christian Fundamentalist Dark Ages lacked the architectural capabilities of the earlier Romans or of the Muslims of the same era - the European Christian architects had forgotten how to build domes - they are still awe inspiring and beautiful works of art.

[mamacat]

07:52 PM on 08/17/2010

OK, I shouldn't have said that they forgot how to make domes, although they didn't use them very much.

[yavuz]

08:24 PM on 08/17/2010

awe inspiring? yes (scares the poop out of you).
beautiful? not so sure...

[WindySailor]

05:08 PM on 08/17/2010

It's a shame so many belong to the dreadful Catholic Church.

[TomJoad1965]

10:18 AM on 08/18/2010

Don't believe all the hate

[suemj]

05:36 PM on 08/18/2010

They don't have to believe it, it's there as fact.( Pedophilia and cover-ups). Come out of denial, lives are being ruined! Yes, the buildings are beautiful, but what a waste of space. Windy, you're right.

[vyfareon]

04:44 PM on 08/17/2010

St. Mark's in Venice is breathtaking!

[ebroadcast]

03:54 PM on 08/17/2010

Who says religion is a good thing? It has created some beautilful architecture!

[Woods Shade]

05:59 PM on 08/16/2010

When is HuffPo ever going to have a History section....... I've asked a few times, I need help people.

[Ergon]

05:27 PM on 08/16/2010

What, no mention of The Pillars of the Earth, the Ken Follett novel and amazing TV series on STARZ?
http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv/

[GraphicMatt]

06:09 PM on 08/16/2010

You don't work for Comcast do you?

[Ergon]

06:32 PM on 08/16/2010

No, but if you do then I have an idea for a mini-series :)

[mamacat]

08:50 PM on 08/16/2010

Thanks for that - just ordered it. Ridley Scott seems to have a knack for telling a good yarn.