Over the ages, churches in Italy have been decorated with the best works of art and built according to the designs of the greatest architects. Here are our absolute favorites from among the thousands of options.
St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is justly the most famous church in a country filled with magnificent churches. Its majestic colonnade and soaring dome create a symbol of Rome as well as of the Catholic Church; inside are unique art treasures that include Michelangelo's Pietà .
Among Italian churches, Florence's Duomo, with Brunelleschi's red-tiled dome soaring over it, is second in size only to St. Peter's Basilica. This architectural masterpiece is also known for its artworks, bell tower, and the famous doors of the nearby baptistery.
Venice's Basilica di San Marco is as dreamlike and magical as the rest of the city. Decorated inside with 3,717 sq. m (40,000 sq. ft.) of gilded mosaics, it contains a host of marvels and has been the focus of the piazza that bears its name since the 11th century.
The Duomo of Milan is a fabulous example of Italian Gothic architecture that took half a millennium to build. With its 135 towers, it may look like a whimsical construction - and to some, it resembles a sand castle.
The churches of Naples are many and splendid, but if you have time for just one, make it the Duomo. It's actually three churches in one, from the paleo-Christian Santa Restituta (with the oldest western baptistery in the world) to the late baroque Cappella di San Gennaro. Don't miss the splendid array of artwork here.
The Duomo di Monreale, located on a hill dominating Palermo, is a 12th-century Romanesque church whose austere exterior makes the 5,111 sq. m (55,000 sq. ft.) of Byzantine mosaics inside even more awe-inspiring.
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