The Most Beautiful Catholic Churches

Ranker Travel
Updated April 15, 2025 258.5K views 42 items
Ranked By
20.1K votes
2.4K voters
Voting Rules
Vote up the churches that deserve to be worshiped.

List of the most beautiful Catholic churches in the world,as ranked by admirers of amazing architecture. Regardless of your religious beliefs and affiliation, anyone can appreciate Catholic churches for their accomplishments in architecture. Every continent in the world is overflowing with some of the most elegant, visually stunning churches in existence. Some of these churches have been standing, in some form or another, for thousands of years, while others are modern additions to the Catholic world. While many of these churches are built with a traditional gothic style, some of the most unique churches on this list are original feats in architecture.

Whether or not you’re a member of the Catholic faith, the Catholic Churches of the world are definitely worth visiting. Sometimes the location of the cathedral or parish makes it all the more amazing, like Arizona’s Church in the Rock and Colombia’s Las Lajas Cathedral which is built over a cliff. St.Basil’s Cathedral is one of the oldest and most recognizable churches, famousfor its colorful domes. Modern structures like Cathedral of Maringa and Cadet Chapel are known for their memorable appearances.

What are the most beautiful Catholic cathedrals in the world? From churches in the U.S. to Ethiopia, the structures on this list are the most striking Catholic institutions in the world.

Most divisive: Cathedral of Maringá
Over 2.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Most Beautiful Catholic Churches

  • St. Peter's Basilica
    St. Peter's Basilica is located in Vatican City and is the location of Saint Peter's tomb.
    • Located In: Rome, Italy
    743 votes
    Beautiful church?
  • Notre Dame de Paris
    Construction on Notre Dame de Paris began in 1160, with gargoyles built into the rainwater gutter system. 
    • Located In: Île de la Cité, Paris, France
    687 votes
    Beautiful church?
  • Reims Cathedral
    • Located In: Marne, France
    554 votes
    Beautiful church?
  • Florence Cathedral
    Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) was began building in 1296 and took over a hundred years to complete.
    • Located In: Florence, Italy
    568 votes
    Beautiful church?
  • 5

    St. Mark's Basilica of Venice

    St. Mark's Basilica of Venice
    St. Mark's Basilica is one of the oldest churches in the world, with year 828 AD as the original building time.
    638 votes
    Beautiful church?
  • Sainte-Chapelle
    Sainte-Chapelle is a medieval Gothic church that was commissioned by King Louis IX.
    • Located In: Île de la Cité, Paris, France
    461 votes
    Beautiful church?