Churches in Italy

Go on a cheap holiday to Ravenna and discover the beautiful city on a family holiday. Discover the wonderful Basilica di San Vitale which is surely one of the best known churches in Ravenna and is built over an octagonal plan and with a combination of Roman and Byzantine elements, with the very famous Byzantine mosaics which are quite unique. The church was built between 526-547, but various parts have since been added to the church and today it is probably one of the best and most well-preserved examples of early Christian Byzantine architecture. Find your trip at Risskov and try a self drive holiday and find a last minute hotel at Risskov.

Visitors to Orvieto take the walk down the narrow medieval alleys and suddenly come face to face with the Duomo di Orvieto cathedral, and especially its façade, which rises to the sky in an impressive way. The Duomo di Orvieto was begun in the 14th century and took more than 100 years to complete. Today it is also one of the city's absolute prides.

The Gothic façade is certainly some of the finest medieval art and is decorated with reliefs and statues of saints.

The Tempio Malatestiano (Malatesta Temple) has been the cathedral of the diocese of Rimini since 1809. It is a famous and classic example of Renaissance architecture and perhaps one of Rimini's most illustrious monuments. Construction began in 1446 under the orders of the head of Rimini, the nobleman Sigismundo Pandolfo Malatesta. The work was completed in 1460, when Malatesta was excommunicated. At that time, the church was still unfinished and it has remained incomplete until today.

The Cathedral of Florence is the largest brick cathedral in the world and is visible from many miles away, giving it a prominent place in the cityscape. You can climb to the top of the church and enjoy stunning views over the city's rooftops. The exterior of the church is dominated by marble in three colours, and is an overall stunning sight.

Another must-see in Siena is the striking cathedral, built in 1215 in pure harmony with the rest of the city's characteristic Gothic and Romanesque style. The exterior of the building is covered in black and white marble and the interior is overwhelmed by the many colourful marble works of art and the very special marble mosaic floor.

The Duomo di Milano is probably the most important Gothic building in all of Italy. At the same time, the size of the cathedral is also quite considerable, in fact it is the fourth largest church in the world. The cathedral was begun in 1386, but not completed until 1805. Be sure to take a brisk stroll around the church and experience the incredible decoration and some 2245 statues adorning the facades.

Buy access to an audio guide if you wish, and hear the whole exciting story of the cathedral while resting your eyes on the beautiful interior. Try a trip up to the roof of the church and see Milan from above, an incredible experience also to get up close to the many figures that adorn the beautiful Gothic cathedral in the centre of Milan.

Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece "The Last Supper" is located next to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Cenacolo Vinciano. Although the great Italian genius lived in Milan for 15 years, this masterpiece is the only one preserved in the city. Also visit the small romantic vineyard, which was given to the master by the Duke of Milan, Ludovica Sforza in 1498. The grape variety is the same as that grown in Leonardo da Vinci's time.

The Last Supper was painted on the wall of the refectory of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Corso Magenta. Milan was not spared during the 2. World War II and the building was hit by several bombs, which resulted in the collapse of several walls and the roof. However, the wall with the Last Supper escaped the destruction and remained standing.

It is recommended to buy the tickets in advance, and remember that each visit is limited to 15 minutes, but it is worth it.

The very impressive St Peter's Basilica can't fail to impress, and in fact it's also the world's largest church, so the sheer size alone is sumptuous. There is absolutely no church that can even compare to this magnificent work, either inside or out.

As St Peter's is located in the Vatican, the Pope holds most of his services either inside the church or in the large St Peter's Square in front of the church, so there might be a chance to attend mass with the Pope himself.

The dome of St Peter's is also the largest in the world, standing 136 metres high and 42 metres in diameter, so it's certainly a sight to behold in the urban landscape. The story goes that St Peter's was built on the tomb of St Peter - one of the 12 apostles, he was martyred around 64 AD during the Christian persecutions launched by Emperor Nero, who, as we know, also managed to burn large parts of Rome to the ground.

The first church on the site was built in the first century and was already considered an incredible architectural masterpiece. The present church was built between 1506 and 1626, with Michelangelo, among others, making a great contribution to its design. The famous church façade measures 115 metres in width and is 46 metres high. The top of the façade is decorated with the six-metre high statues of Christ and the Apostles, as well as John the Baptist.

When visitors enter the church, they really realize how huge it is and how magnificently it is decorated, with the marble sculpture by Michelangelo, the Pieta, with Mary holding the body of her dead son, an experience in art that can never be erased from memory.

From here we can only recommend that plenty of time is set aside for this unique, amazing and absolutely incredible visit to St Peter's in the Eternal City.

Pope Sixtus IV's private chapel in the Vatican, therefore also known as the Sistine Chapel, was built in the years 1477-1480 and later decorated by the most famous artists of the time, Sandro Botticelli, Cosimo Rosselli, Pietro Perugino and Domenico Ghirlandaio. Most famous are the beautiful ceiling paintings of scenes from the Creation, painted by Michelangelo in 1508-1512, but also the altar wall, painted by Michelangelo some 20 years later, depicting the Last Judgement.

Cappella delgi Scrovegni is a magnificent church - and museum - in Padua, built in the early 14th century. It may not look like much from the outside, but inside you'll find some stunning frescoes painted by some of art's mastodons, including Giotto, Guariento and Mantegna. Giotto was the great painter and architect of his time and was responsible for much of the church's interior decoration. Together, the many beautiful frescoes depict parts of both the New and Old Testaments.

St Mark's Basilica in Venice is considered a masterpiece of architecture. A lavish cathedral, shaped like a Greek cross, with five bell-shaped domes. It is recommended to book a ticket or a guided tour in advance to avoid queues. Inside the cathedral, the walls, vaults and domes are decorated with beautiful mosaics telling the stories of Jesus' life. Also see the golden altarpiece, the treasury and the gilded bronze horses in the gallery on the first floor. The 99-metre bell tower at the top of the cathedral offers a splendid view of the San Marco district and Venice.