By Hayley Simpson | Published on January 11, 2024
What Makes A Cathedral A Cathedral?
You might be wondering about the difference between a cathedral and a church, as Europe is home to plenty of both. Primarily, a group of clergymen or priests manage a church, while a bishop is the head of a cathedral. Bishops also typically reside on the cathedral premises, and it's a larger place of worship. Many religions practice in cathedrals, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran.
Currently Under Construction
La Sagrada Família is undoubtedly one of the most famous cathedrals in Europe. However, its fame stems from the fact it's the world's largest unfinished Roman Catholic Church. Renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí designed the cathedral for vibrant Barcelona. Construction began in 1882 but ceased when Gaudí passed away in 1926, with less than a quarter of the cathedral complete. (He's also now buried onsite.) Construction slowly resumed in the 1950s, and it finally passed the halfway point in 2010. The expected completion date is 2026 — the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death.
La Sagrada Família is as well known for its incompletion as it is for its unique architectural style. It's a complex combination of Gothic Revival, art nouveau and Catalan modernism. Gaudí designed many unique features, including the three iconic Glory, Nativity and Passion facades, which respectively face south, east and west. The intricate facades, sculptures, and mosaics are truly a feast for the eyes that must be seen to be believed.
Upon completion, the cathedral will be home to 18 spires, which symbolize the Twelve Apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists and Jesus Christ. Increasing in height to visually represent the hierarchy, once complete, the Jesus Christ spire will reach 560 feet. More than three million people visit La Sagrada Família annually, making it Barcelona's most-visited tourist attraction. Fortunately, there are many cruises out of Europe from Barcelona, so don't miss seeing this iconic cathedral on your European vacation.
Another European cathedral currently under construction is Notre Dame de Paris, often simply referred to as Notre Dame. This 14th-century medieval Catholic cathedral located on Île de la Cité in Paris is one of the world's finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, its iconic features include vast stained-glass rose windows that awash the cathedral's interior with a rainbow of colors, three pipe organs and vaulted ceilings.
Notre Dame is known as a Gothic trendsetter. It's one of the earliest structures built with exterior flying buttresses, which are now a quintessential design in Gothic architecture. They were constructed to greater support the thin walls and large stained-glass windows. Speaking of essentials, no Gothic masterpiece is complete without chimeras and gargoyles arranged outside the building's exterior, which Notre Dame has in spades. Inside Notre Dame, you'll find important Christian relics, such as the Crown of Thorns and both a sliver and a nail from the True Cross.
Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, Notre Dame de Paris (often translated as The Hunchback of Notre Dame), garnered renewed interest in the cathedral, and the momentum led to a major renovation. Today, it's one of the most widely recognized symbols of both Paris and France. In fact, approximately 12 million people visit Notre Dame annually, making it Paris' most visited attraction.
After it survived both the French Revolution and World War II, the world was left heartbroken when Notre Dame's roof caught fire in 2019 and burned for nearly 15 hours. The roof was iconic in itself, as each beam is made from an individual tree from the 12th century, earning it the nickname "the Forest." However, reconstruction is underway to bring the cathedral back to its previous glory, and it should re-open in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Iconic Italian Cathedrals
Italy is home to many celebrated European cathedrals, but on your cruise vacation you can't miss the ones that dominate the Milan and Florence skylines. Florence Cathedral (formally known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) is the Archdiocese of Florence's mother church. Construction on the Gothic masterpiece began in 1296 and was completed in 1436. While it's known for its unique green and pink marble-paneled exterior, the cathedral's facade wasn't finished until the 19th century. However, Emilio De Fabris used the same marble to complete it.
Another defining feature is Filippo Brunelleschi's dome, a pioneering feat in both beauty and engineering. With inspiration from Rome's Pantheon and Nero's Palace, it's made from over four million bricks, weighs roughly 40,000 tons and stands over 380 feet tall (the equivalent of 10 stories). The dome remains the world's largest brick dome. Step inside the cathedral to see its unique interior decoration: multiple frescoes from the Renaissance era depicting the Last Judgement.
There are more spellbinding frescoes throughout the cathedral's interior, as well as historic stained-glass windows. However, many of its original sculptures and artwork were moved to the Opera del Duomo Museum. Head there next to see over 700 works of art from artists such as Donatello and Michelangelo. The Florence Cathedral complex in Piazza del Duomo also includes the Baptistery and Giotto's Campanile, which are collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Next is Milan Cathedral. It is officially known as the Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary and — as you might guess — is dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary. It's currently the Archbishop of Milan's seat, too. Like many of its counterparts, it took six centuries and thousands of workers to complete its construction. It began in 1386, but the cathedral didn't receive its finishing touches until 1965.
Milan Cathedral sprawls 126,000 square feet, making it one the world's largest Gothic cathedrals and one of the world's largest Roman Catholic cathedrals. Sitting pretty in Piazza del Duomo, it's predominantly built in the Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles. Milan Cathedral is a complex combination of styles and eras, with a French Gothic eastern apse, an octagonal Renaissance cupola and a neoclassical pink and white marble facade completed during the Napoleon era.
The cathedral's elaborate facade of 18th-century spires and marble statues is as intricate as it is mind-blowing. It's home to the most statues in the world, including 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures decorating the interior and exterior. It also houses an important historical artifact: a nail from Jesus' crucifixion. To truly appreciate Milan Cathedral's architecture and to see stunning city views, take the lift or climb up to the rooftop terrace. Try not to get sidetracked by the stunning interior, where you'll find the cathedral's most famous sculpture, the sparkling gold Little Madonna, on top of the tallest spire.
Marvel At These Masterpieces
If your cruise stops in Germany, you'll have some of the most gorgeous cathedrals in the world at your disposal. Cologne Cathedral is a renowned monument of both German Catholicism and Gothic architecture and home to the Archbishop of Cologne. It has a unique history similar to La Sagrada Família in that construction began in 1248, ceased in the 16th century and was finally completed to its original Medieval plan in 1880. It's seen a lot of historic moments over the centuries, being used as a stable during the French Revolution and getting damaged by Allied air raids in World War II.
Cologne Cathedral's interior is just as striking as its exterior. There's the 13th-century gold Shrine of the Three Kings, which is said to contain relics of the Magi who attended baby Jesus. Then there are the 13th-century stained-glass windows, accompanied by a modern version that local artist Gerhard Richter created in 2007. It features 11,000 square panes in over 70 different colors, which make the cathedral glow when sunshine strikes through.
At 515 feet and with two immense and record-breaking Gothic spires, it is the world's tallest twin-spired church, Europe's second-tallest church following Ulm Minster and the world's fourth-tallest church. It's no wonder 20,000 people visit daily, making Cologne Cathedral Germany's most visited landmark.
Meanwhile, across the English Channel in London, you'll find the iconic St. Paul's Cathedral. The Anglican cathedral is the Diocese of London's mother church. Standing tall on Ludgate Hill, the Grade I listed building is the City of London's highest point. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle stretches back to the original church on the site in A.D. 604. The current structure, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, is in the English Baroque architectural style with neoclassic and Gothic touches.
The defining feature of St. Paul's Cathedral is its 365-foot dome, which has dominated the city's skyline for centuries and stood as London's tallest building until 1963 when the Millbank Tower was built. Michelangelo's dome in St Peter's Basilica and other renaissance trendsetters were Wren's primary inspiration. His design included three infamous nested domes, including an outer dome, a steeper inner dome and a hidden central dome. The dome's exterior is defined by a cross at the top and Corinthian columns. Other defining features include the West Front, the cathedral's main entrance with its 30-foot-high Great West Door.
Step inside and prepare to be mesmerized by the High Altar, an intricate design weighing four tons and carved out of Italian marble. St. Paul's Cathedral is also well known for its art exhibitions, with artwork stretching over the centuries. A burial, memorial or celebration in St. Paul's Cathedral remains one of the highest national honors. It was the site of Winston Churchill's funeral and Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding. While there is a tourist fee to enter, it's a working church, so there's no cost for worshipers to attend services.
Whether you're taking a short getaway to a few cities, or setting off on a 14-day cruise to Europe, you could plan trips to Europe just around the stunning cathedrals. Create a list of your must-sees and try to visit every one on your next vacation cruise.
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