It’s Easter time! And for this occasion Spotted by Locals selected five churches to visit during Easter break. Have you ever had dinner or cocktails in a church? In the Church in Dublin, you can! More of a regular church fan? Visit the Riverside Church in New York with its 390-foot high steeple (almost 120 meters), the tallest in North America, or head to Boyana Church in Sofia for a real UNESCO heritage gem. Do you like marble? Head to Venice and visit Santa Maria dei Miracoli, with both interior and facades sculpted and redressed with multi-colored marble. We have selected five unique churches that are definitely worth a visit. What better way to spend your Easter break?Â
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Riverside Church – New York
Riverside Church is a majestic, regal, spacious, and wonderfully placed church near the Hudson River. Martin Luther King Jr. (the historic “Riverside Church” speech), Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Cesar Chavez, and a long list of others have spoken there.
The church’s 390-foot high steeple (almost 120 meters), the tallest in North America, is now open to the public. It houses a 74-bell carillon, the largest tuned bell ever cast, the Bourbon Bell, weighing 20 tons. Once at the top (after a 145-stair climb), it is the equivalent of looking from floor 64 of a midtown skyscraper.
Before you depart, you can get a coffee or any other drink to go at the café in the basement!
If you are visiting this church on Easter: on the 17th of April, you can join the Worship service at 10h45, and afterward there is an Easter Brunch organized in South Hall. Everyone is welcome! Donations are not required but are appreciated.
Spotted by Geoffrey Dunbar
Boyana Church – Sofia
Boyana Church is a UNESCO world heritage site in Sofia. Away from the city center, it is a gem for explorers and for anyone keen on plunging into the medieval history of Bulgaria. This place contains excellent frescoes, particularly by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, the major donator, who is depicted with his wife Dessislava. All of the paintings in the church appear to be extraordinarily emotionally intense for a 13th-century picture, which is why they are believed to have influenced the development of not only Bulgarian but also European medieval painting.
Boyana Church is a UNESCO world heritage site in Sofia. Away from the city center, it is a gem for explorers and for anyone keen on plunging into the medieval history of Bulgaria. This place contains excellent frescoes, particularly by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, the major donator, who is depicted with his wife Dessislava. All of the paintings in the church appear to be extraordinarily emotionally intense for a 13th-century picture, which is why they are believed to have influenced the development of not only Bulgarian but also European medieval painting.
The church of Boyana was built in the 11th century. It has been renovated over the years and was once an Orthodox temple that was used until 1954. It is now a UNESCO world heritage site and a significant art historical landmark. If you wish to learn more about the church and the city, a guided tour is well worth your time!
Spotted by Yana Alexieva
The Church – Dublin
Have you ever been to a restaurant located in a church? In Dublin, you can!
The Church Restaurant is situated on Dublin’s northside. This renowned tourist destination provides excellent meals and even cocktails in the evening. The restaurant used to be St. Mary’s Church, and it was here that Arthur Guinness married almost 200 years ago. The interiors of St. Mary’s Church have been preserved, and it is quite a beautiful building for a cup of tea or coffee! They have a regular bar downstairs and their Gallery Restaurant located on the first floor opens in the evening for dinner. The Church even organizes free traditional Irish music and dancing shows from Sunday till Thursday.
It’s only a short walk to one of Dublin’s main shopping areas, so it’s the ideal setting for a cup of tea, postcard writing, or simply relaxing. Because the Church is such a large building, you will never feel compelled to leave your seat. Guests are also welcome to come in and take a look around; there is no need to buy a tea or coffee if you just want to look around.
Spotted by Rose O’Donnell
Santa Maria dei Miracoli – Venice
Santa Maria dei Miracoli, also known as the Church of marble is definitely worth a visit when you are in Venice if you wish to include a precious gem in your day plan. It is an authentic treasure of Venice from a historical-artistic point of view, but also from a sentimental point of view for Venetians.
Unlike all the other churches in the city, it was built in the 15th century and has remained practically untouched. The architecture is stunning, with both interior and facades sculpted and redressed with multi-colored marble. Three sides are visible from the streets, and one directly overlooks a small canal that is crossed by gondole.
Spotted by Cecilia Staiano
St Nicholas Church – Bucharest
As most Bucharest residents say, you can’t miss the Church of St. Nicholas or the Russian Church as you walk around the University Square into the Old Town. This is one of the last works of Russian religious architecture in the 20th century and, to the city’s residents, one of the most beautiful churches in the city.
The majority of Romanians are Orthodox Christians, so there are many Orthodox churches in the city, which are unique in their architecture. Originally covered with gold, there are seven typical Russian onion domes, which are rare in Romania. St. Nicolas Church was built between 1905 and 1909 with a 600,000 gold ruble donation from the Court of Emperor Nicholas II, hence its name. The wooden, gold-gilded iconostasis is actually a copy of the altar in Arkhangelsk Cathedral in Moscow’s Kremlin.
Spotted by Diana Goanta