Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

The cathedral of Lanciano was built on the three arches of a Roman bridge built under Diocletian (284-286). In 1088, during the reconstruction work of the bridge after an earthquake, a statue of the Virgin was discovered and given the name of Madonna del Ponte (Our Lady of the Bridge). The statue was a Byzantine icon of the 8th century which was probably hidden in an arch of the bridge during the iconoclasm. The citizens of Lanciano decided to build a church in honour of the Madonna in 1389. It was first called Oratorio di Maria Santissima del Ponte and was later renamed Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Landås Church is a modernist church built in 1966 by architect Ola Kielland-Lund. The structure is made of concrete, as are the pulpit and baptismal font. The altar consists of a wooden plank which is supported by two concrete pillars and has a wooden crucifix carved by Olav Espevoll.

Landåsbygda church is a 1960s church built according to drawings by Per Nordan. The church has a free-standing tower and a polygonal church building that is connected by a covered passage. The altarpiece is from the 17th century and originally stood in the old Fluberg church.

The Landro church is a 'working church' designed by Aksel Fronth in 1977. In Landro there is also a chapel from 1906, which was converted into a church in 1923.

Landsmarka Chapel is one of the first Drakstil ("dragon style") churches that was built in the 1880s. The chapel is built according to the plans of the architect Herman Major Backer. The chapel has an open porch with an arched entrance resembling the arcades of the Stave churches.

The Landvik church is a cruciform church dating from 1824. In 2014, the church in Landvik received a new organ. It is the third organ of the church. The first organ was built in 1893 and was placed above the altar. It was then moved to the gallery at the back of the church. It was replaced by another organ in 1958.

St Mary's church sits within the former nave of Lanercost Priory, an Augustinian monastery founded in 1169. Part of the medieval settlement is in use as the village hall, part is cared for by English Heritage and can be visited, and part has been converted to private dwellings.

Langangen church, inaugurated in 1891, is a wooden church designed by Haldor Larsen Børve.

Langene Church is a cruciform wooden church probably built in the early 16th century. It is the oldest preserved church in Vesterålen. It is possible that the church was originally built in Gisløya, a little further south in the municipality, and then moved to Langnes.

The church in Langestrand is an octagonal church from 1818. It is built in the empire style of the time. The extensions for the choir and the sacristy were added in 1902. In the church, there is a baptismal font from 1596. The previous church was demolished to make way for a new blast furnace at the ironworks.