We can't even count the number of churches we've visited across Europe over the past five decades,…read morebut they certainly number in the thousands. Offering religious inspiration, historic relevance, and sophisticated architecture, the greatest houses of worship are essentially free museums! Known locally as La Consolata and Italian for Sanctuary of the Consoled, this must be one of the 20 most stunning churches we've ever visited on the European continent. It was even better that the cathedral seemed a bit of a hidden gem, as few visitors were present at the height of tourist season. While the original structure was rebuilt in the 1600s, the bell tower dates to around AD 930. The rather basic exterior belies a jaw-dropping interior! Priceless paintings and gorgeous baroque architecture will leave you speechless, so much so that pictures simply do not do this facility justice.

This beautiful church was designed by both the amazing architect Guarini and his successor Juvarri…read morein a combination of high Baroque and Italian Roccoco. It is absolutely splendid - so over the top and yet so perfect. One thing visitors might want to note is that mass is said almost continually so it is a bit hard to photograph the main altar without disrupting a mass. The church also has a medieval style bell tower and next to it is the foundation of one of the corner turrets of the old Roman fort which later became Turin. Much more beautiful than the portion of the cathedral which is currently open.

Ran into this place by accident and first thought it was a Roman style building that belonged to…read morethe University or something like that. In fact it's anything but, and a gorgeous chuch with amazingly beautiful interiors. Absolutely loved it and would suggest this as one of the places to visit when in town ;-)) The interior is stunning with decorate painted ceilings and columns and tons of ornate throughout. A beautiful place indeed :-)

Superga was breathtaking. It was a clear day and the location at the top of the mountain with the…read moreviews of the alps was outstanding. The inside of the baroque Basilica was so overwhelmingly beautiful. These pics don't do it justice. There is a neat history to the background of the church. During the besiegement of Turin in 1706 by Franco-Spanish forces, Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy knelt and prayed. He swore to God that if a victory was achieved he would have a church built for our Lady (the Virgin Mary) on the highest hill/mountain in the city. Victory was achieved by the Piedmontese army. The duke became King and kept his promise. It was free to see the inside of the Basilica. There's a small chapel inside the Basilica and no photos are allowed inside that chapel. There was a guided tour available for a fee. Lots of tourist, families, and couples around the property. Great spot to take in gorgeous architecture and an epic view of Torino. There is a memorial for the Superga air disaster behind the building. In 1949 a plan crashed carrying the Torino football team.

Located at the top of Superga, this baroque Basilica, built in the 1700's, sits 672 meters above…read moresea level over looking the city of Torino. Tours of the Savoy residence are offered in Italian only, but guides are offered for sale at €0,20 in many languages at the ticket counter. Also for sale at €3/person are tickets to climb to the top of the cupola. Accessed from inside the Basilica, via a windy, stone staircase, it is well worth the views and at €3, a bargain! The parking area is small, but if you wait patiently, someone will move and you can park. We saw a few people playing games in the piazza area, or picnicking on the grassy slope beside the church. Walk around the back of the church, to view the memorial to 18 players of the Grande Torino football team, who died when their plane crashed into the hillside in 1949. There is also a steep walking trail into the woods on the left hand side of the basilica. A restaurant is also located on this side as well as the ticket office. This could be a quick stop to see the inside of the Basilica, or take a few more minutes and climb to the Cupola for the amazing views. Add more time to tour the residence and have some refreshments at the restaurant if your schedule allows. You could even spend the day soaking up the sun on the grass and enjoy a picnic. Whether a quick stop or a full day, it's a nice stop with some stunning views.

The Duomo is Milan's most beautiful church by exterior, but he has a competitor for the most…read morebeautiful church by interior: San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, a former nunnery! Behind a virtually nonexistence facade, San Maurizio hides perhaps one of the most ornate church interiors and can actually compete with the famous Sistine Chapel. From the moment you step in the door - assuming you finally find the right door - you will be awed by the incredibly colorful paintings that surround you! Despite being in a small room, the vast amount of the beautiful paintings can spell-bind you for a while. Additionally, for the first time in history, you as a public member can finally pass through the partition wall into the previously restricted nunnery hall! Like the public worship hall across the wall, the nunnery hall is also filled with paintings. However, while the worship hall paintings are intended to awe the public the divine grace with vibrant colors, the nunnery hall paintings intend to invoke piety with serenely-colored examples of female saints. You can admire for a few minutes or examine for hours, but this church is certainly a sight that you should not miss! Did I miss it's free to enter? --- tl;dr version: 1) Perhaps Milan's most beautiful interior 2) Small spaces that are filled with marvelous paintings 3) Free sight that should not be missed

This is one of the most beautiful churches I have seen in Italy…read more Considered the "Sistine Chapel" of Milano, San Maurizio is overwhelmingly blessed with walls and ceilings decorated by one of the masters of frescoes Bernardino Luini and his sons. Entering through the doorway of the Archeological Museum, you walk to the left to the entrance. Once inside, your eyes are mesmerized by the frescoes of men and women dressed in flowing robes as appropriate in the mid-1500s. There is a huge organ on the second floor looming over wooden choir seats. The frescoes are on a wall separating the church where the general masses sit and the hidden portion of the church where nuns par tipster in the service. The towards the back are frescoes from passages of the Bible such as Noah's Ark, the passion of Christ, etc. The volume of art was spectacular. Having just been restored the color are so freshr-looking you could be looking at the scenes as they would have appeared when the Master artists finished their work. Entrance is free but please do tmake a donation to support this incredible treasure.

No visit to Genoa is compete without a visit to "Cattedrale Di San Lorenzo!" The architecture of…read morethe outside of the Cathedral, as well as the inside of the Cathedral are breathtaking in every way. Unfortunately, as of the time that I took these photos (July, 2022), the outside of the structure is being cleaned or restored so there is a lot of scaffolding, but do not let it prevent you from visiting! As you can see from my photos, it is still magnificent. Cathedrals and Holy Sites as amazing as "Cattedrale Di San Lorenzo" deserve to be kept up and looking great, so please be mindful of that if you visit!

The San Lorenzo Cathedral (St. Laurence Cathedral), or "Duomo," is Genoa's beautiful, old cathedral…read morethat was founded in the 4th or 5th century. It is located in the city center and has a black- and white-striped façade. It was built to hold what were said to be the relics of John the Baptist which the Genoese brought back from the Holy Land during the Crusades and is supposed to be haunted by the workmen who built it. Don't miss the bomb launched by the British Navy. It came through the walls of this great cathedral, but did not explode on February 9, 1941. It was truly a lovely church! Inside the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo was the Treasure Museum. This is a small museum filled with an incredible amount of gold and silver objects. It was built in1956. You follow the signs in the front of the church to the sacristy, where you purchase your ticket. Then, you walk down a short flight of stairs to the entrance to the four rooms of the Museum. The silver statue is the reliquary of St. Lawrence. Don't miss the Sacred Basin, the Byzantine Cross of the Zaccaria, the plate on which the head of St. John the Baptist was carried to King Herod for his inspection, along with the reliquary ark of the Barbarossa and the 15th-century processional ark!