Even though most of the most famous churches in the world are located in Europe, there are plenty of fascinating religious structures located all around the world. One of the continents where you can find exceptional church buildings is in South America. Just about all countries here are devoutly Roman Catholic which has resulted in huge Roman Catholic churches being erected here. In this article, you'll discover some of the most famous churches in South America. Can these fascinating landmarks measure up to other counterparts in Europe? Let's find out!

1. Las Lajas Sanctuary

Las Lajas Sanctuary is also referred to as "Las Lajas Shrine" because it features a shrine dedicated to the apparition of the Virgin Mary in the 18th century. Because this apparition presumably happened in a canyon of the Guáitara River, the church was built in a remarkable location. The magnificent Gothic cathedral was built between 1916 and 1949 and it's clear why it took such a long time to build this relatively small church. It's located right inside a gorge in the southwest of Colombia and can be accessed by a bridge that stands 50 meters (160 meters) above the canyon floor. Read more on Listerious: 8 facts about Las Lajas Sanctuary

Las Lajas Sanctuary / Diego Delso / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

2. Basilica of Our Lady Aparecida

The Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida is officially known as the "Basílica do Santuário Nacional de Nossa Senhora Aparecida" and is located in the town of Aparecida in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It's a huge structure and the most prominent landmark in this relatively small town with a population of less than 40,000. The church was dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil according to Brazilian Roman Catholic tradition. With a length of 188 meters (617 feet), a width of 183 m (600 ft), and a maximum height of 109 m (358 ft), it's the second-largest church in the world after St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida / Valter Campanato / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/br/deed.en

3. São Paulo Cathedral

São Paulo Cathedral is officially known as "Catedral Metropolitana de São Paulo" is the main church and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Paulo, Brazil. The church was completed between 1913 and 1967 and was officially consecrated in the year 1954. It's the largest cathedral in the huge city of São Paulo and is relatively big as well. It has a length of 111 meters (364 feet), a width of 46 meters (151 ft), and two neo-Gothic towers which each stand 92 meters (302 feet). It also features a magnificent dome that was inspired by Renaissance architecture.

São Paulo Cathedral / Webysther Nunes / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

4. Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá

The Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá is officially known as the "Cathedral Basilica Metropolitan & Primate of the Immaculate Conception & Saint Peter of Bogotá" and is the main church in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. It's the official seat of the Archbishop of the city. The cathedral was completed between 1803 and 1823 and thoroughly renovated halfway through the 20th century. This wasn't the first structure on this location though, because a church has been present here since the 16th century. The church is located at Bolívar Square, the central and most important square in the city.

Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá / William Neuheisel / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

5. Rio de Janeiro Cathedral

Rio de Janeiro Cathedral is officially known as the "Cathedral of St. Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro" and is one of the most famous churches in South America because of its remarkable architecture. It was constructed between 1964 and 1979 and features a modernist design. The church was dedicated to Saint Sebastian who is the patron saint of the city. The design of the cathedral was intended to resemble Mayan architecture, and more specifically the pyramids they built at places like Chichen Itza. It's fair to conclude that this immense structure with an internal diameter of 96 meters (315 feet) and a maximum height of 75 meters (246 feet) is one of the most remarkable landmarks in the center of Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro Cathedral / Cyro A. Silva / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

6. Shrine of St. Paulina

The Shrine of St. Paulina is also sometimes referred to as the Sanctuary of St. Paulina and is located in the town of Nova Trento. This town can be found in the state of Santa Catarina in the South Region of Brazil. The church complex was dedicated to St. Pauline of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus (1865-1942), the first Brazilian woman to be proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church in 2002. This immense structure resembles two hands in prayer and was constructed shortly after the saint was canonized in 2002. It only took 926 days to complete this building which covers an area of 9,616 square meters (103,510 square feet). It's a popular attraction in the region and is visited by nearly a million people every year.

Shrine of St. Paulina / Vinicius Lannes Duering / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

7. St. Ignatius Cathedral

The St. Ignatius Cathedral is also known as the San Ignacio de Velasco Cathedral, a reference to the city of San Ignacio de Velasco in Bolivia in which it's located. This is the capital of the Velasco province in the eastern part of the country. The original version of the church was constructed in the 18th century between 1748 and 1761. This building was commissioned by the Jesuits living in the area and was unfortunately destroyed by fire in the year 1948. The church was rebuilt to its original design between 1998 and 2001.

St. Ignatius Cathedral / Geoffrey Groesbeck / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

8. Basílica del Voto Nacional

If we have to choose one structure in this list of the most famous churches in South American that resembles one of the magnificent Gothic Cathedrals in Europe then it would be the Basílica del Voto Nacional in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Its located in the historical heart of this sprawling city and is the largest neo-Gothic cathedral in the Americas. The cornerstone f the structure was laid in the year 1893 and the cathedral was consecrated nearly a century later in 1988. It remains technically unfinished like the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, and they better not hurry up to complete it because the word around the campfire is that the world will end whenever this happens.

Basílica del Voto Nacional / Maros / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

9. Cathedral of La Plata

The Cathedral of La Plata is located in the city with the same name in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area, the capital of Argentina. It's one of the most remarkable Neo-Gothic churches in South America and was inspired by the cathedral of Amiens in France and the Cathedral of Cologne in Germany. What's remarkable about this church is that it was left unfinished after the initial construction phase between 1884 and 1932. Especially the unfinished spires made the structure look peculiar. The presumed foundation problem that halted the work was solved during the 1990s and the original plan was completed between 1996 and 1999.

Cathedral of La Plata / Wiki Commons

10. Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral

Very few churches in the world resemble an ancient Greek or Roman temple unless they were such a structure, to begin with. This applies to, for example, the Pantheon in Rome. Another example that comes to mind is La Madeleine in Paris which also wasn't initially constructed to serve as a Roman Catholic Church. This makes the Neoclassical façacde of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral unique in the world. The original church on this location was built in the 16th century and the dome and nave date back to the 18th century. The façade was completed in the 19th century and the interior is decorated with both Renaissance and Baroque elements, turning the main church in Buenos Aires into one of the most famous churches in South America.

One of the most fascinating Gothic Cathedrals in the world can be found in the historical heart of the capital of Austria, Vienna. In this post, you'll discover the ultimate list of interesting facts about St. Stephen's Cathedral, an amazing church with a remarkable history commonly known as the Stephansdom.

1. The original church was built on an Ancient Roman cemetery

During the reign of Roman Emperor Augustus, in the year 15 B.C., the Romans built a fortified structure to protect a military camp that they had built on the site where the Austrian capital of Vienna is located now. They referred to the city they had founded as "Vindobona," which translates to "fair village, white settlement," and which is probably how modern-day Vienna got its name. It's only during the year 2000 that ancient graves were discovered about 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) below the surface. This means that the cathedral was built on the remains of an ancient Roman cemetery.

View of the church in Vienna / Pixabay

2. The Romanesque towers were completed in the mid-13th century

The original church on the site was built in the 12th century in the Romanesque architectural style. It was founded in the year 1137 and the initial construction phase was completed in 1147, which is the year the church was dedicated to Saint Stephen. This was an important event as it was the moment that Conrad III of Germany and his gang were getting ready to start their Second Crusade (1147-1150). The first church on the site was completed in the year 1160 and subsequently expanded between 1230 and 1245. This is when the 2 magnificent Romanesque towers we can still see today were completed. These towers stand 65 meters (213 feet) tall and are commonly referred to as the "Heidentürme," a reference to the fact that they were built on top of the Roman fortification. "Heiden" translates to "Pagans," so "Pagan Towers."

The Romanesque towers / Bwag / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

3. The second church here dates back to the 13th century as well

Even though the two Romanesque towers were completed in 1245, the structure around them doesn't date back to this period. That's because a great fire destroyed much of the structure in 1258, except for these two towers. The towers were simply incorporated into an even bigger structure which was completed and dedicated shortly after on April 23, 1263. One of the most remarkable facts about St. Stephen's Cathedral is that this dedication in the 13th century is still commemorated every year. On this day, the big bells inside the tower ring for 3 minutes straight.

Detail of the old Romanesque part of the cathedral / Pixabay

4. The Gothic church we see today was finally completed in 1511

It didn't take long before another expansion phase was started, this time in the Gothic architectural style. In the early 14th century, King Albert I commissioned the Gothic choir which consists of 3 naves. This work was completed between 1304 and 1340 and dedicated by Albert's son, Albert II. This wasn't enough because Albert I's grandson, Rudolph IV or "Rudolph the Founder," started the construction of the westward Gothic extension of the church. The overall design of the church we see today with all its features was completed in 1511, the year that construction on the cathedral was halted altogether.

View of the Gothic additions to the cathedral / Pixabay

5. The main spire reaches the height of a modern-day skyscraper

During the final expansion phase, the church was seriously enlarged. It has a total length of 107 meters (351 feet) and a width of 70 meters (230 feet). The most prominent feature of this fascinating cathedral is the southern tower of which the spire reaches a height of 136.7 meters (448 feet). This tower was completed in 1433 and its height is the equivalent of an amazing skyscraper which turns it into the most dominant building in the area.

Drawing of the cathedral in 1847 / Wiki Commons

6. The north tower was intended to resemble its taller brother

The church could have been even more imposing if the original plan was completed. This would have turned the north tower into the twin brother of the south tower, but this plan was eventually abandoned when work seized in 1511. The construction of this tower was started in 1450 and it eventually reached a height of 68.3 meters (224 feet). Because the original plans were abandoned, this tower was topped with a Renaissance roof in the year1568, a common feature during the 16th century.

The north and south tower of the cathedral / Bwag / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

7. The main door is probably named after a prehistoric animal

The main entrance of the church has its own name as it's referred to as the "Riesentor," or the "Giant's Door." There are a couple of theories as to why it's referred to as such, but it's assumed that it refers to the thighbone of a mammoth, a giant prehistoric animal. This thighbone was excavated during the construction in 1443 and dangled above this door for multiple decades. To both sides of this door we can find the old Romanesque towers from the 13th century.

Detail of the Riesentor / Uoaei1 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

8. The most amazing feature of the church is its tiled roof

One of the most amazing facts about St. Stephen's Cathedral is that it features a magnificent roof that is covered with a grand total of 230,000 glazed tiles. This roof has a length of 111 meters (364 feet) and the south side depicts the symbol of the Austrian Empire under Habsburg rule, the double-headed eagle. The north side of the north depicts the coat of arms of both the City of Vienna and of the Republic of Austria, a remarkable sight to behold!

Detail of the tiled roof / Bwag / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

9. It's home to the third-largest swinging bell in Europe

The cathedral's towers are home to a total of 23 ringing bells. The largest of them all is called the "Pummerin," or "Boomer," and is located inside the north tower. The original Pummerin was cast from 208 cannons captured from Muslim invaders during the Second Turkish Siege of Vienna in 1683. This enormous bell weighed 18,161 kilos (40,038 lbs) and it took over 15 minutes of 16 men pulling on a rope for the bell to ring. Unfortunately, this old bell was destroyed in the aftermath of World War II and replaced with the "New Pummerin" in 1951. The new bell weighs even more at 20,130 kilos (44,380 lbs), a weight that makes it the third-heaviest swinging bell in Europe. Only the Petersglocke in Cologne Cathedral (23,500 kg / 51,810 lbs) and the Maria Dolens (22,700 kilos / 50,044 lbs) in Rovereto, Italy, are heavier.

The famous Pummerin / Gryffindor / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0

10. A presumed miracle brought a Hungarian icon to the church

The interior of the cathedral is equally impressive as the exterior and multiple famous works of art can be found here. One of these is the "Pötscher Madonna," a Byzantine-style icon of St. Mary with baby Jesus that It was created in 1676 and brought to the church in the late 17th century from the church of Pócs in Hungary for a particular reason. After Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I received the word of the icon shedding tears on two different occasions, he ordered to be brought to Austria. It arrived in Vienna after a 5-month journey in 1697 but hasn't been seen shedding tears since. It can now be found in the southwest corner of the nave of the cathedral.

Pötscher Madonna / Bwag / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

11. The 15th-century Altar underwent a costly 20-year restoration

The High Altar is the first one a visitor notices when entering the church. This Baroque altar was completed between 1641 and 1647 and represents the stoning of Saint Stephen, the martyr to whom the church was dedicated. The other famous altar in the church is the so-called Wiener Neustädter Altar, an altar that was commissioned by Emperor Frederick III in the year 1447. This altar wasn't moved to the cathedral until 1885 as it originally decorated the Cistercian Viktring Abbey near Klagenfurt (until 1776) and the Cistercian monastery of St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Wiener Neustadt. On its 100th anniversary in the church in 1985, a restoration program was started which would take 20 years to complete at a cost of 1.3 million Euro. It's only opened during weekends and opened up it depicts events in the life of the Virgin Mary. If closed, it depicts a painting involving 72 saints.

Wiener Neustädter Altar / Bwag / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

12. A sculptor probably eternalized himself below the pulpit's chair

One of the most remarkable works of art is the stone-cut pulpit which is situated against one of the pillars of the nave of the cathedral. The sculptor is believed to be Dutch-born Nikolaus Gerhaert (1420-1473), but he didn't manage to steal the show so-to-speak. Below the pulpit, we can see the image of a man peaking through a window. This is believed to be a self-portrait of an unidentified sculptor who is referred to as the "Fenstergucker," or "Window Peaker."

Fenstergucker in St. Stephen's Cathedral / Uoaei1 / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

13. Some very famous people are buried inside the church

The Dutch sculptor who created the magnificent pulpit is also responsible for the creation of the tomb of Emperor Frederick III (1415-1493). This work started 25 years before his death and would take 45 years to complete. He's far from the only person who ended up being buried in the church as it's also the final resting place of Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736) and 72 other members of the Habsburg Dynasty of the Austrian Empire whose remains are in the crypt.

Tomb of Emperor Frederick III / Bwag / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

14. The south tower was completely restored in the 2000s

During the 2000s, the exterior of the church has been restored as the accumulated dirt turned most parts of the stones completely black. The most prominent feature of the church, the south tower, was restored as well. This restoration project, which mostly involved cleaning the limestone) was finally completed in the year 2008 and the south tower pretty much looks brand new again!

The south tower during restoration / Andrew Bossi / https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5

15. The interior looks amazing after a renovation as well

One of the most fascinating facts about St. Stephen's Cathedral is that the interior looks amazing as well, especially following a similar renovation project. The cathedral features several chapels which are adorned with statues and amazing works of art. This means that entering the church is a must-do item on your Vienna bucket list!