These are the incredible places that have provided faith, comfort, protection, and love to millions of people for centuries.
Borobudur, Indonesia
In the central region of Java, there is a place whose breathtaking beauty leaves every visitor in awe. Java, in itself, is one of the most fascinating islands in the world, characterized by mountain jungles and stunning rice fields. In this exotic environment stands Borobudur, dating back to the 8th century, which has now become a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most significant Buddhist structures in the world.
The construction of the building likely took around 75 years. Standing 34 meters tall, it was built from approximately 55,000 cubic meters of stone. It consists of stupas, each of which hides a Buddha statue inside. Viewed from above, the structure forms a three-dimensional mandala, symbolizing the universe. Borobudur depicts the eternal battle between good and evil, as well as themes of hope, desire, passion, and reincarnation. After its completion, the remarkable stone temple stood abandoned for 200 years, largely due to the eruption of the Gunung Merapi volcano. For 800 years, the city was covered in ash, and later, the jungle took over. Eventually, the extraordinary buildings were rediscovered by archaeologists who arrived with the Dutch colonizers.
Saint George Monastery, Israel
Monks often live solitary lives, as hermits, secluded from the world, dedicating themselves to asceticism, contemplation, and devotion to God. The 5th-century Orthodox monastery, carved into the rocks, is located in Israel, in the West Bank, on the western shore of the Wadi Qelt. It is still inhabited by Orthodox monks today. The sacred site can be reached by a narrow bridge that spans over the Wadi Qelt valley.
Many believers consider it to represent the valley of the shadow of death mentioned in Psalm 23. The approach to the site is already quite unique, and upon leaving, one truly feels as though they have been reborn.
La Sagrada Família, Barcelona
The Spanish are considered one of the most Catholic nations in Europe, so it comes as no surprise that they boast a wealth of stunning churches and cathedrals. However, among all of them, La Sagrada Família is the most beautiful and popular. Gaudí, even at a young age, was entrusted with a significant task in 1883: continuing the construction of the neogothic Sagrada Família. The cathedral ultimately became the masterpiece of his life, though the work is still ongoing to this day.
La Sagrada Família, Europe's strangest cathedral, has become a symbol of Barcelona. Gaudí is said to have become truly obsessed with the building, altering everything in the original plans, and working on it for 40 years. He spent the last 16 years of his life living like a hermit on the construction site.
The plans are so complex and grandiose that after the architect's death, no one dared to continue the work. Since 1926, three towers have been built, but the construction was once again halted. A few years ago, the city's leadership decided to complete the temple, which is expected to be finished by 2026 and, by all indications, will become the largest cathedral in the world. The church is one of the most outstanding examples of organic architecture, though it can also be classified within the Art Nouveau style. Undoubtedly, it is one of the strangest religious buildings, brimming with fairy-tale-like solutions. The unusual geometric shapes, the mosaic made of broken tiles, the mushroom-shaped roof, and the colorful carved fruit piles placed in stone baskets create a striking, surreal contrast to the somber, commanding cathedral—almost as if a child had playfully interfered with the monumental construction work.
Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar (Burma)
The Shwedagon Pagoda, which rises nearly 100 meters above the city of Rangoon, is Myanmar’s true jewel and undoubtedly one of the true wonders of the religious world. The 2,500-year-old structure is breathtaking at night, offering a unique sight with its glowing golden lights that cannot be matched anywhere in the world. The pagoda’s uniqueness lies in the fact that it houses strands of Buddha’s hair, his staff, his water filter, and a piece of his clothing. According to legend, many years ago, two merchants, Tapussa and Ballika, met with Buddha, who gave them eight strands of hair as a gift. The merchants brought the hair to Burma and discovered a place where previous Buddha relics had been buried. They decided to build a shrine to house the precious items. Once the shrine was completed, miracles followed; the sick were healed, and gemstones fell from the sky.
The structure itself is covered with hundreds of gold plates, and the top of the stupa is adorned with more than 4,500 diamonds and 2,000 rubies, the largest of which is about 72 carats. The gold plates were donated by the Burmese to the shrine, with donations beginning in the 15th century and continuing to this day. The Shwedagon Pagoda is a true treasure trove of Myanmar’s history and heritage, encompassing architecture, sculpture, and art. It consists of hundreds of colorful small temples, as well as numerous stupas and statues. It has been rebuilt several times, and it reached its current height of 98 meters in the 18th century. Every Burmese person wishes to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda at least once in their lifetime.
Meteora Monasteries, Greece
The "towering" rocks near the village of Meteora offer the most magnificent panorama in all of Europe. On top of these massive rocks, historical monasteries were built, most of which are still open to visitors today. According to legend, in the 15th century, a monk named Athanasios arrived in this region, and together with a few refugees, he began constructing a monastic city. A monastery was built on each peak, and they can be accessed via stairs carved into the rock. Of the more than 24 Byzantine structures that once stood here, only five are still used by the monks today.
The most beautiful and also the most famous of them all is the Metamorphosis Monastery, which is characterized by its lavish interior decoration. Additionally, it contains a library filled with handwritten manuscripts.
