9 Beautiful Houses of Worship Around the World 

Different religions have different ways of showcasing their houses of faith. 

For many centuries across the globe, people have built houses of faith to honor the higher power(s) they worship. Below is a list of different architectural representations of these sacred spaces. 

1. Borgund Stave Church

Borgund, Norway

The portrayal of dragon heads on the roof of the Borgund Stave Church in  Norway was built to ward off spirits in 1180. The church was dedicated to Apostle Andrew and has been incredibly preserved. The medieval church received certification in 2010 for being an environmental lighthouse. The church is set to reopen to visitors on April 15.

2. Golden Temple

Amritsar, India

Named the holiest temple in the Sikh faith, the Golden Temple’s upper floors are covered in 750 kilos of pure gold. It was built by Guru Arjan in 1604 and is located in the Northwest of India, near the border of Pakistan. It is said that the waters surrounding the temple in the river Ganga cleanse one’s bad karma when taking a dip. It is visited by 100,000 worshippers daily. 

3. Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik, Iceland

This Lutheran Icelandic church was built by architect Guðjón Samúelsson and, at 240 feet, stands as the tallest building in the capital and the second tallest in all of Iceland. The design is influenced by the country's volcanoes and the natural surroundings that inhabit the nation. Visible from almost any point in the city, the church is known as one of Iceland’s landmarks and largest church. 

4. Kizhi Pogost

Kizhi Island, Russia

Set on Kizhi Island in Russia’s Lake Onega, Kizhi Pogost is a  UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of two wooden churches and a bell tower built in 1714. What makes this an incredible architectural structure is that it was made completely of wood, with no metal or nails involved. Today, the churches are an open air museum. 

5. Wat Rong Khun

Chiang Rai Province, Thailand

Designed by Thai visual artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, Wat Rong Khun (also known as The White Temple) was created to honor Buddha’s purity. There are many intricate details in the space, including carvings of monkeys, people and hands among other things. Today, Kositpipat has only completed three of the nine buildings he has plans for. The temple entrance cost is $1.50, Kositpipat will not accept more because he does not want large donors to influence his art. The temple is being run by a team of volunteers. 

6. Las Lajas Sanctuary

Ipiales, Colombia 

Located less than seven miles from the Ecuadorian border, Las Lajas Sanctuary sits over the Guaitara River. The Roman Catholic basilica has three iconic features. First, the bridge has statues of angels playing instruments on each side. The second is the stained glass by Italian artist Walter Wolf. Lastly, there is an image of the Virgin Mary painted on the back stone wall. The neo-Gothic basilica is surrounded by lush vegetation and was named the most beautiful church in 2015 by The Telegraph. 

7. Great Mosque of Djenné

Djenné, Mali

Globally known as an example of Sudano-Sahelian architecture and one of Africa’s most famous structures, the Great Mosque of Djenné was built in  1907 from mud and brick, which needs regular replastering to keep its form. Today, the Great Mosque is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sacred destination for Muslims. 

8. Jubilee Synagogue

Prague, Czech Republic

Jubilee Synagogue. BORIS G. CC BY 2.0

The colorful and intricate Jewish Jubilee Synagogue, also known as the Jerusalem Street Synagogue, was built in 1906 by architect Wilhelm Stiassny to commemorate the Emperor Franz Joseph I’s ascension to the throne. A preserved organ by composer Emanuel Stephen Peter is played for visitors. Today, it is open to the public and used for Orthodox prayer services.

9. Szeged Synagogue 

Szeged, Hungary

New Synagogue. Emmanuel Dyan. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The second largest synagogue in Hungary, Szeged Synagogue merges Art Nouveau with Gothic, Moorish, Byzantine, Roman and Baroque interior design. The sanctuary’s seating faces a Torah ark made with wood from the banks of the Nile River. The triumphal arch of the building displays the biblical commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself" in both Hebrew and Hungarian. 

10. Temple of Heaven

Beijing, China 

Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Fabio Achilli. CC BY 2.0

An imperial sacrificial altar, the Temple of Heaven in Dongcheng District, Beijing is considered the “supreme achievement of traditional Chinese architecture.” It is 273 acres and located in a large park, measuring 38 meters high and 30 meters in diameter, built on three levels of marble stones. It was completed during the Ming dynasty in 1420 and used to pray for harvest and for worship. In 1998, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jennifer Sung

Jennifer is a Communications Studies graduate based in Los Angeles. She grew up traveling with her dad and that is where her love for travel stems from. You can find her serving the community at her church, Fearless LA or planning her next trip overseas. She hopes to be involved in international humanitarian work one day.

Amazing Styles of African Architecture

Africa is home to many beautiful styles of architecture, each shaped by the region and time when it developed. 

The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali. UN Mission in Mali. CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 

While most people are familiar with European styles of architecture, such as  Gothic and Renaissance, African architecture is not as frequently showcased. Other than the Pyramids at Giza, Africa’s architectural marvels are relatively little-known. International media often overlooks the cultural, historical and societal diversity of Africa in favor of news that portrays the continent in a negative light. There are a wide variety of architectural styles across Africa, each influenced by their environment and the time when they developed. Below are just three examples of Africa’s many unique architectural styles: Sudano-Sahelian, Afro-Modernist and Swahili. 

1. Sudano-Sahelian 

Sudano-Sahelian architecture is characterized by the use of adobe, mud bricks and wooden-log support beams that jut out of the walls, as well as grassy materials like thatch and reeds which are used for roofing, reinforcement and insulation. The name Sudano-Sahelian refers to the indigenous peoples of the Sahel region in Africa—which extends from modern-day Senegal on the West Coast to Eritrea on the East Coast—and the Sudanian Savanna, just south of the Sahel. The Sudano-Sahel region is semi-arid, with an environment that transitions from the Saraha in the north to tropical deciduous forests in the south; there are both trees and wide, grassy plateaus. The earth is a major building resource in the region, which led to the development of the area’s distinct adobe architecture around 250 B.C. Today, ancient Sudano-Sahelian architecture remains a major influence on many contemporary African architects, such as  Francis Kéré, who wants to showcase African traditions in his architectural projects. 

The courtyard of The Great Mosque at Djenné. Johannes Zielcke. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

One of the most impressive examples of Sudano-Sahelian architecture is The Great Mosque of Djenné in Djenné, Mali. While the mosque was constructed in 1907, there have been a number of mosques on this same site since the 13th century, all built in the traditional Sudano-Sahelian style. 

Ghana’s Independence Square. CC Chapman. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

2. Afro-Modernism

Afro-Modernism refers to Africa’s post-colonial experimental architecture boom of the 1960s and 1970s. Thirty-two  African nations declared their independence from European colonial powers between 1957 and 1966. New elected governments ushered in an era of public works projects, including university campuses, banks, hotels and even ceremonial spaces like Ghana’s Independence Square. The architecture of the era largely used concrete, as it was more easily cooled than other materials—a necessity in hot, equatorial climates. Afro-Modernism draws on European styles of architecture; many buildings were designed by European architects. African influence is clearly present as well, though, and African architects like Samuel Opare Larbi were crucial to the movement. Staples of Afro-Modernism include bold shapes and the combination of traditional building materials like adobe with modern materials, such as concrete and steel. 

Some examples of Afro-Modernism include the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya which has a lily-shaped auditorium; the FIDAK exhibition center in Dakar, Senegal, which is made up of  a number of triangular prisms; and some buildings at the University of Zambia in Lusaka, Zambia, which has various open-air galleries and exposed staircases. 

3. Swahili 

Monumental stone structures dating back to at least the 13th century populate the Swahili Coast, an 1,800-mile stretch along the Indian Ocean in modern-day Tanzania and Kenya. The area is rich with coral limestone, which became a crucial building material for the indigenous Swahili people. 

A close-up of Swahili woodwork. Konstantinos Dafalias. CC BY 2.0

The stone architecture evolved over time to include intricate decorative elements, such as carved door frames and windows with natural and geometric designs. The carvings in Swahili  architecture date back to the 17th century, with the earliest known example being from 1694. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the practice of stone and wood carving grew more widespread. Carvers drew influence from architecture and art overseas, including neo-Gothic, British Raj and Indian Gujarati styles. 

A carved stone door in Lamu, Kenya. Justin Clements. CC BY 2.0 

 Kenya’s Lamu Old Town is the oldest and most well-preserved Swahili settlement on the Swahili Coast. Lamu Old Town is constructed from coral limestone and mangrove timber and has been continuously inhabited for over 700 years. The Stone Town of Zanzibar, on Unguja Island, is another excellent example of Swahili architecture, especially the blending of African, Arabian, Indian and European influences. Both of these towns have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Sudano-Sahelian, Afro-Modernist and Swahili architecture are only three of Africa’s wide variety of architectural styles. Others include Somali, Afro-Federal, Nigerian and Ethiopian. For more stunning pictures of African architecture, visit this Twitter thread. 

Rachel Lynch

Rachel is a student at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY currently taking a semester off. She plans to study Writing and Child Development. Rachel loves to travel and is inspired by the places she’s been and everywhere she wants to go. She hopes to educate people on social justice issues and the history and culture of travel destinations through her writing.

All the Way to Timbuktu: Exploring the Cultural Riches of Mali 

Look beyond what the Western media says to appreciate Mali’s rich cultural heritage.

WARNING: As of February 2021, the U.S. Department of State advises against all travel to Mali due to risk of crime, terrorism and kidnapping. For the time being, enjoy the country from your computer screen. Do not visit Mali.

A man reading historical manuscripts from West Africa. Jermaine Johnson. CC2.0

Mali is a landlocked country located in the heart of West Africa. Mali’s rich history dates back to the 11th century, when the empire of Mali controlled vast swaths of the Niger River valley. Known as a beacon for Islamic scholarship and trade from the 13th to the 16th century, things took a turn when the French colonized the country in 1898. Since achieving independence in 1960, Mali has suffered from coups, droughts, corruption and insurgencies by Islamic extremists in the country’s north. 

Despite Mali’s negative reputation in Western media coverage, the country has a fascinating history and vibrant culture that deserves to be celebrated—from afar, until safety returns. Here are some of the stunning historical and cultural sites in Mali: 

Djenne

The Great Mosque and market in Djenne, Mali. Carsten ten Brink. CC2.0

Located in central Mali on a seasonal island in between the Niger and Bani rivers, Djenne is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest towns and has been inhabited since 250 B.C. The town was a stopping point for traders in the trans-Saharan gold trade and was known as a hub of Islamic learning during the 15th and 16th centuries. The stunning Great Mosque in Djenne is the world’s largest adobe structure, containing three turrets. Interestingly, adobe structures are very common in Mali due to the lack of wood in the desert. The area in front of the mosque makes a great spot for people-watching and is the site of a colorful market every Monday. 

Cliffs of Bandiagara

A village in Mali’s Dogon region. Emilio Labrador. CC2.0

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cliffs of Bandiagara are home to the Dogon people, who continue to carry on age-old traditions. Carved into tall sandstone cliffs, the Dogon region stretches for over 125 miles and provides a fascinating place for travelers. Due to the region’s remote nature, the culture of the Dogon people has been mostly left unchanged for centuries. Dogon cultural festivals take place from April to May and contain beautiful Dogon masks, dance and art. Travelers in the Dogon region often stay overnight in Mopti, a town located along the Niger River. 

Timbuktu

Conducting maintenance at Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu. United Nations. CC2.0

A city fabled for its rich heritage as a trading center, Timbuktu is still a crucial point for salt caravans traveling across the Sahara desert. From the 13th to 16th centuries, Timbuktu was a center of Islamic scholarship, with its teachings and sacred texts disseminated across the Muslim world as far as Cairo, Persia and Baghdad. The city was home to a 25,000-student university and several magnificent mosques, including Djingareyber, Sankore and Sidi Yahia. Many manuscripts are now in danger of falling apart or being sold on the black market. Due to recent conflicts in northern Mali, Timbuktu was proclaimed an endangered World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012. Thus, preserving Timbuktu’s historical legacy is of utmost concern. 

Bamako

A market in Bamako. Aene gespinst. CC2.0

Mali’s capital is a vibrant city located on the Niger River in the southern part of the country. Translated as “crocodile river” in the Bambara language, it is an exciting place to acclimate to Malian life and culture, whether by trying the local cuisine, visiting bustling markets or exploring Mali’s music scene, which is well known throughout Africa. 

Mali’s rich historical legacy is often overshadowed in the Western media by stories of violence caused by religious extremists, but there is much more to the story. One must be willing to look beyond the country’s negative portrayal to appreciate Mali’s true cultural heritage.

Megan Gürer

Megan is a Turkish-American student at Wellesley College in Massachusetts studying Biological Sciences. Passionate about environmental issues and learning about other cultures, she dreams of exploring the globe. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, singing, and composing music.