ceremonial structures

One of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, Chartres Cathedral (1140-1260) is almost perfectly preserved in its original medieval design, from innovative Gothic architecture to extensive portal sculptures and stained glass.

Nestled in the hills of southwest France, the picturesque village of Conques is home to a magnificent Romanesque abbey church, rich with sculpture. There is also a medieval treasury.

Dedicated to the Celtic-Roman goddess Sulis Minerva, these ancient Roman baths are still fed by a sacred hot spring. The site museum displays excavations and artifacts from the baths and temple.

Originally built in the 5th century over a Temple of Isis, this octagonal brick structure was patterned after the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It was modified in the 11th century.

Originally built in the 4th century to house the relics of the city's first two martyrs, Vitale and Agricola, this is the oldest church in Bologna and part of the Santo Stefano complex.

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is the world headquarters of Roman Catholicism and one of the largest churches in the world. Founded by Constantine the Great in 324, it stands over the tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle.

This fine 12th-century church, part of an active Benedictine abbey, houses the relics of St. Matthias, the apostle who was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot. It is still visited by many pilgrims.

Santo Stefano is a monastic complex of four Romanesque churches (11-13C) built on the site of a pagan temple to Isis and incorporating earlier churches dating back to the 4th century. There is also a medieval cloister and small museum.

The “Ladies' Abbey” in Caen was founded by Queen Mathilda, wife of William the Conqueror, in 1063. Its church, La Trinité, is a fine example of early Norman architecture.

Located in southern Italy, this is the second-most visited Catholic shrine in the world. It centers on the tomb of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, a Capuchin friar, priest and mystic known for his devotion.