I've walked into many churches in Italy. After a few, you feel cathedral fatigue - another nave, another altar, another queue. But a few made me stop and gasp at the architecture. I remember exactly where I stood in each and the moment my brain gave up trying to process what it saw.
Here are five cathedrals and churches in Italy I would recommend to all visitors.
Cathedrals vs. Churches: What's the Difference?
A quick note on terminology: not every church on this list is technically a cathedral. A cathedral is the principal church of a diocese and contains the bishop's official seat.
St. Peter's Basilica and Sant'Ignazio are basilicas or churches rather than cathedrals, and St. Peter's is located in Vatican City. They're included because they belong on any architecture-focused church itinerary through Rome and Italy.
Duomo di Milano, Milan
This was the first cathedral I visited on my trip to Italy, and I will never forget how breathless I was at the sight of this majestic architecture. The minute I stepped out of the Duomo metro station, it looked like something that grew out of the earth rather than was built.
The 135 spires, a forest of pinnacles, and the gilded Madonnina shining at the top are masterpieces. The unique marble rooftop is the real reason Duomo Milan is on this list. I booked a Milan Cathedral tour that included access to the terrace.
The minute you climb onto the roof, you walk among the spires, close enough to see the carved faces and details on each. On a clear afternoon, you can see the Alps on the horizon.
I recommend you do the tour around 5 pm to watch the marble turn warm pink as the light drops.
St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
How can you visit Rome without paying a visit to St Peter's Basilica? The scale of this religious building was something I was not prepared for.
Scale is something nobody prepares you for. You will likely walk out with neck pain after your visit. The gorgeously detailed dome, marvelous sculptures, Bernini's Baldachin, and more await inside.
You can find Michelangelo's Pietà behind glass, just inside the entrance to the right. Note that this is the original statue by Michelangelo and the only one he signed!
The dome climb was the highlight of my visit. I paid extra for the elevator to the terrace, then walked the last stretch. The steps curve inward toward the ddome'sshell, so you lean sideways throughout the climb.
Midway, you'll follow a walkway around the inside of the grand dome for an up-close look at its mosaics. The dome rises approximately 448 feet above the ground, although the walkway itself is considerably lower.
Then proceed to the top to enjoy the view over St. Peter's Square, which is worth every drop of sweat.
One practical note: Entry to St. PPeter'sBasilica is free, but all visitors must pass through security. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are separate, ticketed attractions with their own entrance. I booked my Vatican tickets online about three weeks in advance to bypass the ticket line at the museums.
Florence Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), Florence
The Florence Duomo is my personal favorite on this list. I visited twice: once at night to explore the exterior in peace and again in the morning for a tour.
Brunelleschi's dome is a 15th-century engineering marvel that outshines modern techniques. Climbing it is the best hour you'll spend in Florence. There are 463 steps, and the staircase narrows near the top so you squeeze between the outer and inner walls of the dome.
Halfway up, there's a walkway around the interior of the dome at the level of Vasari's Last Judgment frescoes. You're an arm's length from faces approximately nine feet tall. Then there's more climbing to the lantern, which reveals the terracotta rooftops of all of Florence.
Book a slot for the dome tour in advance. You can't just show up to climb it. If the dome is sold out, head across the square to Giotto's bell tower for city views.
Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, Rome
This was an accidental find while walking from the Pantheon to the Trevi Fountain. I just wanted to step into a quaint church I was passing, only to find the most beautiful one in Rome.
The ceiling fresco of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola is so extensive and detailed that you will want to explore every inch. It is free to enter and usually crowd-free.
This is also the church with the mirror where people visit to take the iconic photo of the ceiling. You will find a long queue of mirrors, but otherwise the cathedral is empty.
I recommend walking to the altar and exploring rather than waiting for the mirror. By the end of the visit, you will have wrecked your neck.
Siena Cathedral, Siena
The last one has the most beautiful interior. Siena Cathedral is banded in black-and-white marble and feels more like an adorned jewelry box than a church.
The Piccolomini Library off the nave is covered wall-to-ceiling with frescoes by Pinturicchio, with colors that look wet. If you're there in late summer, the inlaid marble floor panels are uncovered for a few weeks; I got lucky and saw them.
The cathedral is quietly placed in the heart of Siena. I visited on a day trip from Florence but recommend taking more time to enjoy this region of Tuscany.
This article was published in partnership with Milan Duomo Tickets and Vatican Tickets Online.
