Kanmangafuchi Abyss
The Kanmangafuchi Abyss is a river gorge lined with stone statues of Jizo, a Buddhist Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased. The gorge itself is beautiful, and statues provide an eerie vibe that mak…
Tag: religion
Nikkō Tōshogū
The jewel of the remarkable Nikko temple complex, this shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate and stands in a beautiful forest.
Ueno Toshogu Shrine
This beautiful shrine was established in the seventeenth century and remains mostly intact. It's considered a prime example of Shinto architecture during Japan's Edo Period.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Not much remains of this once-massive temple to Zeus, though the standing columns can still give you a sense of the temple's scope.
Santa Catalina Monastery
Founded in 1579 by a wealthy window to house the second daughters of wealthy Spanish families, Santa Catalina Monastery is a city within Arequipa. With beautiful colonial architecture, winding cobblestone streets, beautiful rooms, and ornate plazas, it's one of Arequipa's top sites.
Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Convent)
Founded as a convent in 1389, the Igreja do Carmo was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The walls of the church still stand, as do some of the arches that once supported the roof. It's worth the visit just to wander the eerie site, open to the sky. There's also a small archaeological museum in the nave and apse containing pieces from throughout Portuguese history.
Montserrat
The most sacred spot in Catalunya, Montserrat towers in the mountains 1.5 hours away from Barcelona. It offers both a mountain top Benedictine monastery (Montserrat) nestled in the jagged mountainside and hikes through a unique and impressive terrain of rocky peaks.
Chiesa Madonna della Rocca
The Chiesa Madonna della Rocca is a Norman church dating from the 11th or 12th century A.D. Originally carved from a cave, a massive rock formation still forms much of the roof. The church is worth a visit no matter how you get there, and it's possible to drive or take a bus. But we recommend walking from Taormina (about 20-30 minutes), a challenging uphill walk that's worth it for the exercise and the incredible views.
Temple of Apollo, Syracuse
In the heart of Siracusa's charming Oritigia neighborhood lies the ruins of a Greek temple to the god Apollo, dating from the sixth century B.C. Some of the foundation and stairs, as well as much of one wall and a few columns, still stand.
Cathedral of Syracuse
Syracuse's cathedral is remarkable more for its history than its decor. The cathedral was built on the site of a Greek temple whose columns are still visible as elements of the structure's wall. It's worth a visit to see that alone.