basilique notre-dame, montreal.
the church's gothic revival architecture is among the most dramatic in the world; its interior is grand and colourful, its ceiling is coloured deep blue and decorated with golden stars, and the rest of the sanctuary is a polychrome of blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold. it is filled with hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and several religious statues. unusual for a church, the stained glass windows along the walls of the sanctuary do not depict biblical scenes, but rather scenes from the religious history of montreal.
although this church was built in 1824-1829, this photograph depicts the pulpit that was redesigned between 1883 and 1885.
cathédrale marie-reine-du-monde, montreal.
this is the third largest church in quebec. mgr. ignace bourget, second bishop of montreal, ordered the construction of this church to replace the former saint-jacques cathedral which had burned in 1852. his choice to create a scale model of saint peter's basilica in rome was a response to a rivalry with the sulpician order who had been the feudal seigneurs of montreal, and with the Anglican Church, both of which favoured the neo-gothic style instead.
catedral metropolitana de buenos aires
this cathedral is the main catholic church in buenos aires. it overlooks the plaza de mayo. due to the numerous renovations since its origins in the 16th century, this church is a mix of architectural styles.
this particular photograph depicts the mausoleum of general san martín, guarded by statues representing argentina, peru and chile.
kościół mariacki, kraków.
a.k.a. church of our lady assumed into heaven, this st-mary's church is a brick gothic church re-built in the 14th century adjacent to the main market aquare in kraków. on every hour, a trumpet signal—called the hejnał mariacki—is played from the top of the taller of st. mary's two towers. the plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the mongol attack on the city.
