In all my travels this semester, nothing has touched me more than the churches I have had the opportunity to visit. In every city, there have been stunning places of worship that really have made me stop just to take it all in. Some churches I was able to spend hours in, soaking in the gorgeous interior, others I was only able to pass by. Either way, each of the beautiful establishments holds centuries of history, breath-taking decors and millions of believers' prayers.

9) St. Bride's Church

To begin is one of the first churches I saw while being abroad; we drove past it on a London bus tour. Ever wonder why wedding cakes have tiers? This 2,000 year old church is why. Not only was it founded by St. Bridget in the seventh century, it was the place of marriage for the parents of Virginia Dare, the first baby born in America, of the Roanoke Colony in 1587. But most of all, The shape of modern day wedding cakes is said to date back to 1703 when Thomas Rich, a baker, fell in love and wanted to make an extravagant cake for his wedding; he drew on the design of St Bride's Church for inspiration.

8) St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice was a side of the beautiful piazza with cafes and shops lining the square where musicians and pigeons filled the middle. The Church has intricate sculptures and designs all along the top and stretches so far you cant even see the whole thing around. If the outside looked like this, I can only imagine the inside.

7) St. Giles Cathedral

The next church was something we stumbled across as a meeting point for an underground ghost tour in Edinburgh, Scotland. We had arrived early and the beautiful outside lured us in to see what more there was to see. The inside had huge ceilings and an organ unlike anything I've ever seen, everything from the floor to the windows was gorgeous. I couldn't leave there without getting a postcard!

6) Notre Dame Cathedral

This next world famous cathedral I unfortunately was not able to explore inside. However the views from the outside were spectacular and much grander than anything I would have imagined from photos. It's presence sang triumph and strength. I felt the two towers were standing their ground; proud yet humble. I was trying to get a glance of any gargoyles goofing around up top but I guess Quasimodo kept them in line.

5) St. Paul's and the "Cheesegrater" building

St. Paul's Cathedral in London is another place I was not able to visit inside but was still left in awe by the history and importance it holds. Winston Churchill, especially during the years of the Second World War, famously declared at the height of The Blitz that “St Paul’s must be saved at all costs”. In the process of building modern sky scrapers, The Leadenhall Building, nicknamed the 'Cheesegrater' was built slanted in order for other buildings to maintain a perfect view of St. Paul's.

St. Paul's Cathedral

These churches from here on down, have been the ones that left a mark on my heart. They have not only been beautiful landmarks but served as a place where I feel at peace all in the chaos of traveling; places where I was reminded of my faith and what it means to me.

4) Il Duomo of Firenze

The Duomo of Florence is in the middle of Florence and served as a meeting point for the group I traveled with. This church has an exterior unlike any other designs. The Duomo is huge all the way around that pictures can't grasp it, and the view from the top is worth the climb. The way the green and purple intertwines makes the most hypnotizing front; makes it difficult to look away but then again why would you even want to?

3) Igreja de São Roque

This Church we came across on a walking tour of Lisbon, Portugal. The outside was plain as could be, flat white sides; something we would have walked right past. But on the inside was a world of gold that actually left me speechless. It has a dark tone to it, the ceiling is made of wood planks and painted with a gorgeous scene which had a huge glare from the shining gold and jewels that lined the cutouts throughout the church. Every part of this church is studded with mosaics of ivory, gold and silver; it has earned the reputation as the world’s most expensive chapel.

2) Sistine Chapel

This chapel was also one that took my breath away and would love to return to with my mom and grandma someday. Not only was the Vatican City Museum attached to it and was filled with items such as crosses from the crusaders and robes of previous popes, it was filled with art work that sent chills up and down as we explored it. It is very hard to explain the feeling you get when you are surrounded by the Virgin Mary, Jesus, and various Saints in the country of your heritage. These are people and events I've prayed to and studied my whole life so to be standing before them, it was one of the most touching moments of my life thus far. Time flew by, it felt like we were there for a few minutes but was really closer to an hour, I could have spent all day looking at the miraculous Chapel.

1) La Sagrada Familia

Last but not least was the most ornate, extravagant and tremendous church I have come across while abroad; without a doubt, it was La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. This colossal building was worth the twenty euros to enter. Antoni Guadi can be attributed as the lead architect in this design. Every single aspect of this church has a complex, religious symbolic meaning. From the bony cold outside resembling a skeleton, to the naturalistic inside composing of eighteen forest pillars resembling the twelve apostles, the Virgin Mary, the four Evangelists, and the tallest of all, Jesus Christ. The stained windows show the seasons of the year, a rainbow of colors and light. The life and teachings of Jesus are represented on sides of the three facades. Each one represents one of the three crucial events of Christ’s existence: his birth: his Passion, Death and Resurrection; and his present and future Glory.There is no way to explain this magnificent and passionate church besides pictures. It continues to take my breath away even weeks after visiting.

Ceiling of La Sagrada Familia

Stained Windows of La Sagrada Familia

All in all, these places I've encountered have changed me for the better. They have brought me closer to my faith, and showed me that I have brothers and sisters in every corner of the world. No matter the differences in this crazy world, faith will always be our light. Not only am I coming home with many pictures, post cards and gifts, but I'm coming home with a St.Christopher necklace, given to me by my mom that has kept me safe through my travels, that has been dipped in holy water across 7 countries, 20 cities and countless churches. And most of all, I am returning home with a stronger sense of myself, and that is priceless.