Churches and other religious/spiritual sites are some of the world’s most important attractions for travelers. The are typically the focal point of a city or village and reflect the culture and values of the region. Churches, especially, are significant architecturally and represent the best efforts of a community to express itself. Lee & I have been to hundreds of churches in our travels. Many of these have become unforgettable memories of a particular place. To actually rank these sites is virtually impossible. How can you choose between amazing sights such as Hagia Sophia, the Pantheon, and Mont-St-Michel? Therefore, I will present my favorite 150 spiritual places in installments of five (5), listed alphabetically. Many of my choices are World Heritage Sites and deserve to be preserved forever. Many are simply charming or may hold some special historical significance. Peruse the list and compare your list to mine. Obviously I have not been to all the spiritual places on Earth, but most of these would probably make the all-time list of the majority of world travelers.

Installment 13 — #’s 61-65

61. Marble Church, Copenhagen, Denmark — This beautiful church, modeled after St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, is also known as Frederik’s Church. It is located just west of the Amalienborg Palace complex.

62. Masada, Southern District, Israel — Masada was an ancient fortification near the Judean Desert just west of the Dead Sea. King Herod the Great built palaces here. Masada gained new significance in 73 AD when members of the Jewish rebellion were put under siege here by the Roman Army. Rather than surrender, the Jews committed mass suicide. Masada has become a sacred pilgrimage site for Jews and others who sympathize with the oppressed. Masada was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. It is also a national park.

Hanging Palace at Masada

63. Melk Abbey, Melk Austria —  Prominently located on a ridge above the Danube River, the Melk Abbey is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and one of the most famous abbeys in the world.

Melk Abbey

64. Metropolitan Cathedral, Cartagena, Colombia — The enchanting city of Cartagena features a marvelous cathedral with an elaborate, carved altar.

Cartagena Cathedral

65. Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City, Mexico — Dominating the famous main square of Mexico City, the Zocolo, the huge Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption is the oldest and largest in Latin America.

Metropolitan Cathedral