This is Notre Dame de Fourvière basilica in Lyon, France. Built between 1872 and 1896 it’s known for its unusual design drawing from a variety of architectural influences.

Contributed by Dan.

A church in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK with a Crooked Spire.

Contributed by Simon.

The Church of God’s Prophecy built Fields of the Wood in 1945 in Murphy, NC. The centerpiece of this Christian theme park is the 300 foot wide copy of the ten commandments with the words spelled out in five foot tall letters.

Contributed by Kevin.

Located in Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square feature iconic architecture as well as a rich and interesting history. Believed to be the burial place of the apostle Peter, the Basilica also houses the tombs of 91 popes. [wikipedia]

Since 784 AD this site has been host to: a Roman pagan temple, the cathedral church of St Vincent of Saragossa built by the Catholic bishops under Visigothic rule, and finally the Mezquita (mosque) itself. Within is a Renaissance cathedral, built by the Christian conquerors in the early 13th century. [wikipedia link]

Contributed by Kevin.

Here are a few popular sites to see in Rome, Italy.

The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre is a giant amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome. Originally capable of seating 50,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It was built between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian.

The Basilica of Saint Peter is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City. Michaelangelo’s dome is also the dominant feature of the Roman skyline.

The Pantheon is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of Ancient Rome, but which has been a Christian church since the 7th century. It is the best-preserved of all Roman buildings and the oldest important building in the world with its original roof intact.

The Spanish Steps is a set of stairs in Rome, ramping a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, with the church under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, Trinità dei Monti, above. The monumental stairway, of 138 steps, was built in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish embassy to the Holy See, today still located in the piazza below, with the Trinità dei Monti church above.

Contributed by Kevin.

Here are some popular sites in Florence, Italy.

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral church (Duomo) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Florence, noted for its distinctive dome.

The Ponte Vecchio is a famous medieval bridge over the Arno, in Florence, Italy, noted for having shops (mainly jewelers) built along it. It is Europe’s oldest segmental arch bridge.

The Palazzo Pitti is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy. In the 19th century, the palazzo, by then a great treasure house, was used as a power base by Napoleon, and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly-united Italy. In the early 20th century, the palazzo together with its contents was given to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III; subsequently its doors were opened to the public as one of Florence’s largest art galleries. Today, housing several minor additions in addition to those of the Medici family, it is fully open to the public.

Contributed by Kevin.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and it is the third structure in Pisa’s Campo dei Miracoli (field of Miracles).

Although intended to stand vertically, the tower began leaning to the southeast soon after the onset of construction in 1173 due to a poorly laid foundation and loose substrate that has allowed the foundation to shift. [ wikipedia link ]

Contributed by Kevin & John G.

The Faith Dome is a former sports arena which has been converted into a megachurch. Located in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles, the dome is part of the former Pepperdine University campus, which has since relocated to Malibu. Now the Crenshaw Christian Center, the venue is used for church services, sermons and other religious conventions. With seating for over 10,000, it is one of the largest church sanctuaries in America.

And check out the parking lot. It’s almost like they knew we were watching!

Contributed by Rod.

The Washington National Cathedral in Washington DC.