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St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City -

St. Peter's Basilica, the Renaissance church that overlooks the vast St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines. Consecrated in 1629, as a work of architecture it's regarded as the greatest building of its age.

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Sensō-ji Temple, Japan -

This ancient Buddhist temple located in Tokyo's Asakusa district is the city's oldest temple and one of its most significant. Adjacent to the temple is a five-story pagoda, the Asakusa Shinto shrine. Together they form one of the most widely visited spiritual sites in the world, attracting over 30 million devotees annually.

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St Paul's Cathedral, England -

A working church with hourly prayer and daily services, St Paul's is also one of the most famous and recognized visitor attractions in London.

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Great Mosque of Mecca, Saudi Arabia -

Commonly known as al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, the Great Mosque of Mecca surrounds the Kaaba, and is the largest mosque in the world. It is the main setting for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

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St. Patrick's Cathedral, USA -

A cherished Midtown Manhattan landmark, St. Patrick's Cathedral was dedicated in 1910 and stands as one of the most visible symbols of Roman Catholicism in New York City and the United States.

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Lotus Temple, India -

Located in Delhi, the beautiful Lotus Temple has won numerous architectural awards for its flowerlike shape. Designed by Iranian-American architect Fariborz Sahba, the temple is open to all, regardless of religion.

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Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong -

Located on Hong Kong's Lantau Island, Po Lin Monastery is noted for Tian Tan Buddha, a huge bronze statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that sits near the monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and faith.

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Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Spain -

Designed by Spanish-Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), the Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona is a architectural revelation as much as it is a spiritual awakening. Pictured is a detail of the roof in the nave. Gaudí designed the columns to mirror trees and branches.

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Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, Ireland -

Usually named only as the Knock Shrine, this Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in the village of Knock, County Mayo is believed to be where an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint John the Evangelist, angels, and Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God) took place in August 1879.

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The Blue Mosque, Turkey -

Also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, this historic Istanbul landmark was completed in 1616. Famed for the hand-painted blue tiles that adorn the interior walls, the mosque draws huge numbers of worshippers and tourists alike.

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Santuário de Fátima, Portugal -

Twice a year, in May and October, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gather at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima to mark the anniversaries of a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary apparently witnessed by three young children in 1917.

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Jokhang Temple, Tibet -

Considered the most sacred Buddhist temple in Tibet, Jokhang is located in the capital, Lhasa. Locals describe the temple as the "spiritual heart of the city."

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Mariazell Basilica, Austria -

Also known as Basilica Mariä Geburt, Mariazell is the most important pilgrimage destination in Austria and one of the most visited shrines in Europe.

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Temple Mount, Israel -

Known to Muslims as the Haram esh-Sharif, the golden dome of the Temple Mount is a familiar Jerusalem landmark. It has been venerated as a holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike for thousands of years.

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Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, France -

The Sanctuary, a destination for pilgrimage since the mid-19th century, is especially known for the reputed medicinal properties of its spring water. Each year around 350,000 pilgrims take the plunge in the water at the baths.

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Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico -

One of the most important pilgrimage sites of Catholicism, Guadalupe features the old basilica, completed in 1709, and a modern 1970s-era basilica. Together the buildings welcome several million people a year.

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Cologne Cathedral, Germany -

The imposing twin spires of Cologne's cathedral serve as a focus for the faithful and for visitors: the monumental building is Germany's most visited landmark, attracting an average of 20,000 people a day.

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Thean Hou Temple, Malaysia -

One of the largest temples in Southeast Asia, Thean Hou is located in Kuala Lumpur. A six-tiered structure dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, the temple's architectural design combines elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

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Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Italy -

Saint Francis of Assisi is associated with the patronage of animals and the natural environment, and this basilica, set in Italy's Umbria region, is one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in the country.

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York Minster, England -

Besides being the seat of the Archbishop of York, this impressive cathedral houses the early 15th-century Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.

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Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain -

Located in Galicia and historically a place of pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) since the early Middle Ages, the cathedral is also one of the only three known churches in the world built over the tomb of an apostle of Jesus, the other two being St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City and St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica in Chennai, India.

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Itsukushima Shrine, Japan -

This Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima is known for its dramatic "floating" torii gate (pictured). The shrine complex is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions.

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Kashi Vishwanath Temple, India -

Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Its picturesque setting on the banks of the River Ganges also makes it a favorite destination for religious tourists.

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Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Israel -

According to tradition, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem contains the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus was crucified, and Jesus' empty tomb, where he was buried and resurrected.

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Sacré-Cœur, France -

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, to give the church its full name, crowns the summit of Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has continued uninterrupted in the basilica since 1885, and visitors are requested to dress appropriately and to observe silence as much as possible.

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Shrine of Padre Pio, Italy -

The Sanctuary of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina is located in San Giovanni Rotondo. Built in devotion to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, the shrine can accommodate 6,500 people seated at worship, with standing room for 30,000 people outside.

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Westminster Abbey, England -

One of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings, Westminster Abbey is the final resting place of several monarchs and national figures including Henry III, Mary I, actor Laurence Olivier, and celebrated theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking.

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Venkateswara Temple, India -

Venkateswara Temple, located in the hill town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most-visited holy places in the world. An estimated 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims make their way here every day.

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Western Wall, Israel -

Known in Islam as the Buraq Wall, the Western Wall's holiness in Judaism is a result of its proximity to the Temple Mount.

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Saint Mark's Basilica, Italy -

One of Venice's star sites in the city's envious collection of historic attractions, Saint Mark's Basilica, set at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco, woos the eye with its opulent design and golden mosaics.

See also: Spiritual and healing destinations for a heightened sense of well-being

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