Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

The Cathedral of Ariano Irpino was built in the 10th century on the ruins of an ancient temple of Apollo. King Charles I of Anjou (1266 - 1285) had the cathedral rebuilt, which was completed much later, in 1309. The new building was damaged by the earthquake of 1349 and then devastated by the great earthquake of 1456. The basilica was hit again by earthquakes in March 1517, June 1688, September 1694, March 1702 and especially in November 1732. The bishop of the time, Filippo Tipaldi, completed the new construction of the sacred building in 1736, giving it its modern structure and forms. Still damaged by the earthquake of 1962, the cathedral was then subject to extensive renovations and was reopened for worship in 1982, while the bell tower, which collapsed in the earthquake of 1980 without causing any casualties, was later rebuilt.

The Cathedral of Asti, built between 1266 and 1470, is one of the greatest examples of Lombard Gothic architecture to be found in Northern Italy. There was already a cathedral there in the 5th century, but it was destroyed by arson around the year 1070. A new cathedral was then erected in 1095, probably in the Lombard Romanesque style. The present church gradually replaced the old one and integrated the pre-existing structure.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens is an Orthodox cathedral built between 1842 and 1862. The construction of this neoclassical building began under the architect Theophil Hansen and was continued by Dimitris Zezos, Panagis Kalkos and François Boulanger. In 1999, the cathedral was damaged by an earthquake and a restoration operation had to be carried out which lasted until 2016.

The Cathedral of Aveiro was once part of the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of Mercy of Aveiro, founded in 1423. In 1834, when Prime Minister Joaquim António de Aguiar closed the convents and houses of all religious orders with the decree of May 30th, the church became a parish church. In 1938, Pope Pius XI restored the Diocese of Aveiro, and the church became the Cathedral of Aveiro.

The Cathedral of Ayia Napa was built between the late 19th and early 20th century on the ruins of a smaller ancient Byzantine church. According to tradition, the church takes its name from an icon of the Virgin Mary, which was found in a wooded valley ("napa" in Latin), and is therefore dedicated to her.

The Cathedral of Santa Creu and Santa Eulàlia is a Gothic wonder. The cathedral was built in the 12th century on the site of an old Romanesque cathedral. The building is a site of cultural interest and a national historic monument since 1929.

The Cathedral of Brindisi was consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1089 and completed in 1143. Heavily damaged by the earthquake of 1743, it was rebuilt until the completion of the church bell in 1795. In the 1920s, the façade was completed with a tympanum, later replaced in 1957 by statues of saints. Inside there are fragments of the mosaic floor from 1178.

The Cathedral of Cadiz stands on the site of an ancient cathedral, completed in 1260 and destroyed by fire in 1596. The reconstruction of the present cathedral was supervised by the architect Vicente Acero, who also built Granada Cathedral. The result is a building typical of Baroque architecture, built over a period of 116 years, the length of which has led to numerous modifications to the initial plans; it incorporates elements of Rococo style, among others, and was completed in Neoclassical style.

This cathedral was built in 1247 on the orders of Saint Louis, to replace a sanctuary destroyed 7 years earlier during a siege of the city. A fire in 1849 slowed down the work undertaken to transfer the seat of the bishop.

The Cathedral of Castellón de la Plana is a place of worship in Valencian Gothic style with historicist and neo-Gothic additions. The old Gothic church from the 14th century was destroyed in 1936, leaving only the three entrance portals and some constructive and ornamental elements. The oldest portal is the one overlooking Calle Arcipreste Balaguer, which, according to documentation, dates from 1382 and is the work of Guillem Coll.