For most countries, celebrating All Saints' Day this November 1 often includes visiting late loved ones in their resting places. However, another way to enjoy this holiday is to visit religious architecture sites linked to saints of their choice.
Regardless of your religion, as well as the beliefs and values that come with it, you can still wonder at ancient and modern cultures creating holy sites and honoring what they believe in. The ancient Romans, for example, built sacred worshipping grounds for their Gods and Goddesses, and most have become a top tourist spot.
5 Religious Architecture Sites to Visit
Visiting these religious architecture sites should be atop of your bucket list. From an architectural standpoint, they are interesting. But when it comes to scholarly discussions about history and knowledge, they are far more interesting than celebrity concerts and modern buildings.
Religion is always linked to the Vatican, and you'll be largely missing out if you don't get the chance to visit the place and all the churches to learn from. In this case, you can be a guest at the St. Peter's Basilica. According to Basilica de San Pietro, one of the edges of the building is it was built over the tomb of St. Peter and was designed by iconic Renaissance artists, Michelangelo and Bernini.
A general view taken on March 11, 2020 shows the Vatican's deserted Saint Peter's Square and its main basilica a day after they were closed to tourists as part of a broader clampdown aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak. ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images
2. Mont Saint-Michel (France)
But if you prefer seeing religious architecture sites mixed with nature, Mont Saint-Michel might be the best place to visit with its spot in Normandy's rocky landscape. It once was an abbey for St. Michael the Archangel since the 18th century. According to Normandy Tourism, this site earns the most visited UNESCO World Heritage in the world, perhaps due to its perfect blend with nature, or the way it's different from other gothic architectural sites of religious groups.
MONT ST. MICHEL, FRANCE - JULY 06: Sheep graze near the historic abbey of Mont St. Michel July 6, 2007 at Mont St. Michel, France. Mont St. Michel is among the most popular tourist destination in Europe. Sean Gallup/Getty Images
3. Wat Rong Khun (Thailand)
A fan of white minimalist decor or architectural sites? You'll be glad to know that this White Temple, or Wat Rong Khun, is open to the public. This is a Buddhist temple that puts all-white minimalist buildings to shame. CNTraveler also noted that there are mosaics that symbolize Buddhist teachings, with the white being a reference to purity.
TOPSHOT - In this photo taken on February 24, 2021, a monk visits the Wat Rong Khun, White Temple, a Buddhist temple in northern Thailand's Chiang Rai province. ROMEO GACAD/AFP via Getty Images
4. Stonehenge (UK)
If you want to go back further into world history and its mystery, Stonehenge is another religious architecture site to visit. English Heritage shared that it's not just its standing stones in a circular layout that attracts tourists, but its widely-debated purpose; as a ceremonial or astronomical site. Either way, it's linked to ancient solstices that hailed from Paganism.
WILTSHIRE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: The ancient neolithic monument of Stonehenge near Amesbury is viewed from a hot air balloon on September 7, 2016 in Wiltshire, England. To mark the 30th anniversary of Stonehenge becoming a World Heritage Site, English Heritage has launched a competition offering members of the public the chance of a hot balloon ride which allows the chance to see a unique view of Stonehenge within in a wider prehistoric landscape but also the see the recent changes to its setting in recent years including the removal of the A344 and the old car park. Matt Cardy/Getty Images
5. Spanish Synagogue (Czech Republic)
With detailed interior design, colored tiles, and the usual stained glass most religious sites boast, the Spanish Synagogue reflects best the cultural heritage of Jews in Prague. CNTraveler assures that you will fall in love with the Moorish Revival architecture that takes inspiration from Islamic traditions. In the Europe and US, you'd often see these designs in large domes and minaret-like towers.
Founded in 1357 by Samuel Halevi Abulafia, advisor and treasurer to King Pedro of Castile (also known as Pedro the Cruel), the synagogue was converted into a church following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. Spain's offer of citizenship to the descendants of Jews who were expelled from the country over 500 years ago during the Inquisition has set of a flurry of interest around the world. GERARD JULIEN/AFP via Getty Images
