Many countries around the world have cathedrals. Cathedrals are often great feats of architecture and art work. People from all different cultures and interests are often drawn to exploring cathedrals. Here, you will have the opportunity to be introduced to a few of the most famous cathedrals in the world. Once you enter the “Tour of Cathedrals,” choose a destination and you will be paired up will a personal tour guide!

Tour of Cathedrals

Enter the “Tour of Cathedrals”

Enter the “Tour of Cathedrals”

Choose your destination

USAUSA

RussiaRussia

ItalyItaly

EnglandEngland

FranceFrance

Welcome to France. Adrien will be your guide.

Commencez(begin)

Commencez(begin)

Welcome to Italy.Ficuccio will be your guide.

Cominci(begin)

Cominci(begin)

Welcome to London, England. Edmund will be your guide. beginbegin

Welcome to Russia.Aleksei will be your guide.

Hayhnte(begin)

Hayhnte(begin)

Welcome to NY, USA.Uncle Sam will be your guide.

beginbegin

St. Basil

Welcome to St. Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow!

St. Basil’s Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in the mid 1500’s. It is rumored that Ivan the Terrible had the architect blinded after construction so that the architect may never build something that rivaled St. Basil’s beauty. St. Basil’s actually consists of nine individual chapels. Each chapel has a unique domed top. Eight of the chapel’s are formed around the ninth chapel to form a symbolic eight point star. The star denotes the eight day, Christ’s resurrection, on the ancient Jewish calendar. The inside of the Cathedral is less impressive than the outside. There is not a lot of open room inside. Rather, there are many walls and stairwells. In the past, worshippers have gathered outside of the Cathedral when they could not fit inside. There have been several attempts to destroy St. Basils. It’s location amidst the Red Square has caused some leaders to find that the Cathedral interferes with parades. It is also rumored that Napoleon tried to destroy St. Basil’s because he was jealous of it’s beauty. Obviously, all attempts at destruction have failed.

I would like to see more about this Cathedral.I would like to see more about this Cathedral.

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Aleksei asks:

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I would like to view references and other cool links.I would like to view references and other cool links.

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St. Basil Interior Shots

Westminster Abbey

“An architectural masterpiece of the 13th to 16th centuries, Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history – the shrine of St Edward the Confessor, the tombs of kings and queens, and countless memorials to the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since 1066 and for numerous other royal occasions. Today it is still a church dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life of the nation. Neither a cathedral nor a parish church, Westminster Abbey is a “Royal Peculiar” under the jurisdiction of a Dean and Chapter, subject only to the Sovereign” (Westminster 2005). King Edward commissioned Westminster Abbey in the 1040s. In the 13th Century, the Abbey was rebuilt under commission of King Henry the III to reflect the new gothic style of architecture. William the Conqueror was coronate in the Cathedral on Christmas day, 1066. Every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned there.

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Edmund asks:

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Welcome to Westminster Abbey, London!

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Edmund asks:

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Westminster Abbey Interior Shots

I would like to view references and other cool links.I would like to view references and other cool links.

St. Peter’s, Rome

Welcome to St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome!

“Emperor Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome, ordered to build a basilica on Vatican Hill. The location was symbolic: this was the place where Saint Peter, the chief apostle, was buried in 64 A.D. A small shrine already existed on the site but it was now replaced by a new building church was completed around 349 A.D.” (Basilica 2005).St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world. It is located in Vatican State, which is surrounded by Rome. Michelangelo designed the dome in the 1500s. Inside, there are 45 altars. Famous artists including Michelangelo, Bernini, and Canova designed many of the interior elements. Swiss guards have been covering the entrance to St. Peters and guarding the pope since 1506. St. Peter’s Cathedral is regularly visited for free, although there is a cost to view the dome.

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Ficuccio asks:

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• St. Peters, Rome• Gallery of pictures

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Ficuccio asks:

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I would like to view references and other cool links.I would like to view references and other cool links.

Notre Dame, Paris

Notre-Dame Cathedral is located in Paris. Construction began in 1163, and the Cathedral was completed around 1345. Notre-Dame was pillaged during the French revolution. Many statues and other treasures were destroyed. “only the great bells avoided being melted down” (Notre 2005). Napoleon crowned himself emperor in Notre-Dame. He then crowned his wife as emperess. “The job would normally have been done by an archbishop. Pope Pius VII, there for the occasion, raised no objections” (Notre 2005). During the 1800’s, the cathedral was restored, repairing damage from the French Revolution. The cathedral received new windows and statues. Houses that cluttered the view were torn down. “Excavations under the parvis have revealed traces of Notre-Dame's history from Gallo-Roman times to the 19th century. Vestiges of Roman ramparts, rooms heated by hypocaust (an ancient system with underground furnaces and tile flues), medieval cellars, and the foundations of a foundling hospital are displayed, as are several fascinating photographs of the surrounding neighborhood before Baron Haussmann's renovations” (Notre 2005).

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Adrien asks:

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Welcome to Notre-Dame, Paris

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Notre Dame Interior Shots

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St. Patricks, NY

Welcome to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York!Saint Patrick’s Cathedral began to be built in 1858 by Amercan architects, James Renwick and Charles Mathew. Construction went on hold throughout the years of the Civil War. The doors finally opened in 1879. “The Windows were made by renowned artists in Chartres, France; Birmingham, England and Boston Massachusetts. The great rose window is acknowledged to be the finest work designed by Charles Connick, the 20th century genius in stained glass window design” (Archdiocese 2005). Two of the altars were designed by Tiffany and Company. “The Archbishops of New York are buried in a crypt under the high altar. Their honorary hats, called galeros, hang from the ceiling over their tombs” (Archdiocese 2005). The “Stations of the Cross” featured in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral won first prize at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The Cathedral is big enough to hold over 2,000 people, and over 3 million people visit each year.

I would like to see more about this Cathedral.I would like to see more about this Cathedral.

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Uncle Sam asks:

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Uncle Sam asks:

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St. Patrick’s Interior Shots

I would like to view references and other cool links.I would like to view references and other cool links.

Archdiocese of New York – About Saint Patrick’s CathedralAccessed 2005http://www.ny-archdiocese.org/pastoral/cathedral_about.html St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, RussiaAccessed 2005http://www.moscow-taxi.com/churches/st-basils-cathedral.htmlWestminster AbbeyAccessed 2005http://www.westminster-abbey.org Basilica di San PietroAccessed 2005http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/sanpietro.htmNotre-Dame CathedralAccessed 2005http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Cathedrals/Paris/Notre-Dame.shtml

References:

Other websites of interest:This is a really cool site that lets you translate anything from one language to another:

http://Babelfish.altavista.com

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