Churches in Italy

Historic Churches & Cathedrals

Italy’s architectural legacy is anchored by these 18 historic sites, ranging from the white marble Gothic spires of Milan Cathedral to the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna’s San Vitale. The collection spans centuries, featuring the Romanesque complex of Pisa, the Tuscan Gothic of Siena, and the unique Norman-Arab-Byzantine fusion in Sicily’s Monreale and Palermo cathedrals. Spiritual landmarks like the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Benedictine Montecassino Abbey offer insight into monastic history, while the Scrovegni Chapel and Lecce’s Baroque Santa Croce showcase the evolution of Italian fresco and sculpture.

Historic Churches & Cathedrals — Map

Sygic Traveler / All rights reserved

A

Milan Cathedral

Historic Gothic cathedral known for its impressive architecture, extensive sculptures, and panoramic terraces offering views of the city.

Berthold Werner / Public domain

B

Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi

Consecrated in 1253, this important pilgrimage site is not only the main church of the Franciscan order but also a splendid architectural…

Tango7174 / GFDL

C

Basilica of St. Vitalus

The Basilica of San Vitale is a late antique church in Ravenna, Italy.

Emanuele.vivori / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta

Built in the 13th century, this cathedral was ambitiously meant to be larger than the one in Rome.

Pavel Satrapa / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Orvieto Cathedral

Orvieto Cathedral is a large 14th-century Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and situated in the town…

Filippof / CC-BY-SA-3.0

F

Scrovegni Chapel

The Scrovegni Chapel, also known as the Arena Chapel, is a small church, adjacent to the Augustinian monastery, the Monastero degli…

Tango7174 / GFDL

G

Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua

The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is a Catholic church and minor basilica in Padua, Veneto, Northern Italy, dedicated to St.

Leandro Neumann Ciuffo / CC BY 2.0

H

Monreale Cathedral

Monreale Cathedral is a Catholic church in Monreale, Metropolitan City of Palermo, Sicily, southern Italy.

Nicola Gronchi / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Pisa Cathedral

Historic Romanesque Roman Catholic cathedral known for its architectural beauty, rich decorations, and cultural heritage.

Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Basilica of Santa Croce, Lecce

Basilica di Santa Croce is a Baroque style church that was completed in 1695 in Lecce, Apulia, Italy.

Sherree / CC-BY-SA

K

The Sanctuary of San Michele

The Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel is a Roman Catholic shrine on Mount Gargano, Italy, part of the commune of Monte Sant'Angelo,…

Georges Jansoone / CC BY 2.5

L

New Basilica of St. Apollinarus

The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo is a basilica church in Ravenna, Italy.

Effems / CC BY-SA 4.0

M

Palermo Cathedral

UNESCO World Heritage cathedral and archiepiscopal seat featuring a blend of architectural styles from Norman to Neoclassical. It houses royal and imperial tombs alongside a historical astronomical meridian line.

Public domain

N

Basilica of Saint Nicholas

The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Nicholas is a church in Bari, southern Italy, that holds wide religious significance throughout Europe…

Ludmiła Pilecka / CC BY 3.0

O

Montecassino Abbey

Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about 130 kilometres southeast of Rome, in the Latin Valley, Italy, 2 kilometres west of Cassino and at an…

Phil.vierno / CC BY-SA 3.0

P

Church of St Giorgio Maggiore

The white facade of this church is almost radiant. Its interior is bright and airy, decorated with a few paintings, mostly by Tintoretto.

Entheta / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Q

Cefalù Cathedral

The Cathedral of Cefalù is a Roman Catholic basilica in Cefalù, Sicily.

sailko / CC BY 2.5

R

Modena Cathedral

Modena Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Modena, Italy, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint Geminianus.

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