Be Inspired

Sacred buildings are places to visit for their atmosphere, but the period of confinement in which we currently find ourselves deprives us of this experience. We can, however, still admire these places... online. We have selected for you eight sacred places that you can visit from the comfort of your own home.

The Spanish Reconquista compromised the preservation of Muslim heritage in Western Europe, but the withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire from Eastern Europe in the 18th century did not lead to the systematic destruction of the surviving mosques in the Balkan Peninsula, where many Muslims still live.

The modern Jewish community was established in Amsterdam in the 16th century. Many of these were Sephardic refugees from Spain and Portugal. Ashkenazi Jews from Central and Eastern Europe began to arrive following 1630. It was not until the 18th century that Jews began to settle outside Amsterdam. Since then, numerous new Jewish communities were established in the first half of the 19th century. Overall, nearly 200 Jewish communities are known to have existed in the Netherlands. In this Religiana list, we'll explore the top Jewish heritage sites of the Netherlands.

Even today, much of the landscape of Sweden is covered in woodland. While the traditional style of Stave churches is more abundant in neighboring Norway, Sweden also has a number of religious heritage sites made of wood. Not all of these wooden churches are "true Stave churches", however, many of them stem from the 12th century giving way to a number of wooden church building techniques that inspired several other sites across Europe.

While the religion of the majority of Albanians is Islam, Christianity comes in second, including both Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. The territory of modern Albania has been influenced throughout history by both the Byzantine empire as well as Italian kingdoms and republics, both of whom spread their respective forms of Christianity and left their marks on the religious heritage landscape. A large number of these sites have faced destruction throughout the years, particularly during the Communist regime of the 20th century, but many still remain. We've put together a list of some of the top churches and cathedrals that can be found across the beautiful landscape of Albania.

Today, Islam is the most practised religion in Albania with roughly 60% of the population adhering to it. The first Albanians began to convert to Islam between the 15th and 18th centuries during its rule by the Ottoman empire. During this era, many Albanians went on to greatly contribute both politically and culturally to the greater Muslim world. This legacy can be seen in the cultural landscape of Albania today, which has a number of historic mosques and Islamic places of learning, as well as a number of centres of other Islamic sects such as Sufism. Below, we've put together some of the most notable Islamic religious heritage sites of Albania.

Romania has a very rich Jewish heritage. While the first Jewish people arrived in the territory of modern Romania during Roman times, it wasn't until large immigration waves in the 15th and 16th centuries that a sizeable community was established. Over time, several Jewish families became quite prosperous and the community was able to fund the creation of some magnificent religious heritage sites. Our Religiana list will take a look at some of these outstanding sites and examine the rich Jewish heritage of Romania.

The pained monasteries of Bucovina are some of the most unique religious heritage sites, not only in Romania but of the whole world. These monasteries can be found in the Bucovina region of northeastern Romania near the Carpathian Mountains. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, these monasteries feature brilliantly coloured frescoes on the exterior of the monastery churches in addition to the interior. The reason for this was to convey biblical stories and teachings to a mostly illiterate population. Today, seven of these monasteries are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Romania's region of Transylvania has always been a very diverse place, consisting of Romanians, Hungarians, Germanic "Saxons", and others. One of the more notable features of Transylvania's landscape is that of the fortified churches. These unique churches were built during the late middle ages by the German minority group who were under constant threat from invaders. Since it was difficult for the armies of the Holy Roman Empire to ensure the protection of these villages, they were forced to build their own fortifications around the village's largest building, its church. There were once around 300 of these fortified churches, but today only around 7 of them are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The small island nation of Malta has changed hands several times over the centuries due to its militarily strategic importance, with several kingdoms and empires leaving their mark. Much of the island's most notable architecture was built during the 16th-18th centuries under the rule of the Knights of St. John, a Catholic military order who left their mark on the Island's religious heritage. Today, Malta hosts several magnificent and well preserved religious heritage sites that make any visit well worth the trip.