Which of the world's cathedrals is the most impressive?

Question

Salisbury has a magnificent history, and holds a 700-year-old Magna Carta, founding document of modern democracy.

Winchester has a Roman wall, what purports to be the fabled round table of King Arthur and the knights of Camelot, and the grave of Jane Austen.

Ely stands out from a vast plain and is not overshadowed by modern tall buildings, as most cathedrals are.

Canterbury has history dating back to St. Augustine, 602 AD, and the history of Thomas Becket, the scene of his assassination marked by crossed swords.

St. Peter's has the paintings of Michelangelo, and the Pieta.

Santa Sophia has roots in the Byzantine Empire.

The Blue Mosque was a Christian cathedral until about 1453.

Washington National Cathedral is on a hilltop surrounded by parkland overlooking the capital of the United States.

Our Lady of Angels is said to be a striking new addition to the architecture of Los Angeles.

St. Paul's is London's heart and a perfect example of the genius of Sir Christopher Wren.

CORRECTION: Sancta Sophia (Latin) is best known as Hagia Sophia. It may have been just a church, not a cathedral, the difference being whether or not it had the cathedra of a Bishop. I don't know. Hagia Sophia was built in 532-537 under the Emperor Justinian. The Turkish government has converted it into a museum today.

Answer 1

St Basil's in Moscow, an instantly recognizable symbol of Russia.

Answer 2

My personal favorite is the Cologne Cathedral. It is a beutiful example of Gothic architecture, and appears almost exactly like its medieval designer intended. It is difficult to tell where the later construction begins and the medieval construction ends. It looks impressive, with the numerous statues and spires, not to mention the overall size of the building; 500 some feet tall, nearly as long, and nearly 100 feet wide.

Nowhere in the structure is there a blankness, everything is filled with detail of some sort. The building also escaped the ravages of WW2 carpet bombing, damage form the 30 years war, losing only one small spire in the middle of structure, which was replaced after world war two. The cathedral also has some of the most beuftiful stain glass windows I have ever seen, be it in pictures, or in this case, in person.

Answer 3

I like this one .....

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Strasbourg (German: Straßburger Münster, English: Our Lady's Cathedral) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, France. It is widely considered to be among the finest examples of "high", or late, Gothic architecture. Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318.

and St Peter's Basilica
The Basilica of Saint Peter, officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and colloquially called Saint Peter's Basilica, ranks second among the four major basilicas of Rome (St John Lateran, St Peter's, Santa Maria Maggiore and St Paul outside the Walls). It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City. Its dome is also a dominant feature of the Roman skyline. Saint Peter's is also incidentally the patriarchal basilica of Constantinople whereas the Lateran Basilica is the patriarchal basilica of Rome. Possibly the largest church in Christianity[1], covers an area of 5.7 acres (2.3 ha) and has a capacity of over 60,000 people. One of the holiest sites of Christendom in the Catholic tradition, it is traditionally the burial site of its namesake Saint Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, first Bishop of Antioch, and later first Bishop of Rome. Although the New Testament does not mention Peter's presence or martyrdom in Rome, ancient tradition holds that his tomb is below the baldachino and altar; for this reason, many Popes, starting with the first ones, have been buried there. Construction on the current basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on April 18, 1506 and was completed in 1626[2].

Although the Vatican basilica is not the Pope's official ecclesiastical seat (Saint John Lateran), it is most certainly his principal church, as most Papal ceremonies take place at St Peter's due to its size, proximity to the Papal residence, and location within the Vatican City walls. The basilica also holds a relic of the Cathedra Petri, the episcopal throne of the basilica's namesake when he led the Roman church, but which is no longer used as the Papal cathedra. It is believed that a piece of this cathedra, or chair, is contained within the altarpiece, designed by Bernini.

Answer 4

Eeep! Too many.
Can I oscillate between the magnificent clean formality of Wren's in London, and the utter fantasy of Gaudi's in Barcelona?

But the messiest cathedral, now for that I have a candidate. Nelson, in New Zealand. It's very difficult to find a side-view of this monster, which is the architectural equivalent of a cut-and-shut job on a car. The views all tend to show one end, or the other.

Answer 5

I've been to many Cathedrals, and the one that struck me most with a sense of awe and wonder was St. Peter's in Rome. From the crypts undr the main floor, to climbing the dome and looking out over Rome, it's truely beautiful and magnificent. Everywhere you turn, there is something to appriciate. The side chapel, for the tabranacle, was amazing.

Answer 6

St. Peters

Answer 7

Beyond any doubt, Aachen Cathedral in Aachen, Germany

Answer 8

To me Notre Dame in Paris France, after all it did have its own Hunch Back, you may recall the movie

Answer 9

St. Peters in Rome - wow.

Answer 10

St. Peter's in Vatican City.