Cave monastery in the historical temple complex of old Orhei (Orheiul Vechi), Moldova, Europe

St. Georges Church (Kirk Dam Alti Kilise), Belisirma, Ihlara, western Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

Saint Mary Magdalene Cave, Plan-d'Aups-Sainte-Baume, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, Europe

Saint Mary Magdalene Cave, Plan-d'Aups-Sainte-Baume, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, Europe

Direkli Church, AD1000, Belisirma, Ihlara, western Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

View of ceiling with fresco painting in a cave church, Goreme open air museum, Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

View of ceiling with fresco painting in a cave church, Goreme open air museum, Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

View of ceiling with fresco painting in a cave church, Goreme open air museum, Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Eurasia

Standing Buddha statue, Maharaja Viharaya Cave, the Temple of the King, Cave Temples, Dambulla, Sri Lanka, Asia

Natural windows inside cave at the entrance of Daniel Korkor rock-hewn church, Gheralta Mountains, Tigray Region, Ethiopia, Africa

Cave of The Revelation, Patmos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Dodecanese, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

Sassi di Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Sassi di Matera, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Chapel below Cave of Pythagoras, Mount Kerketeas, near Kambos, Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece

Frescoes, Al Nazar Church (Cave Church), 10th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Goreme, Nevsehir Merkez, Nevsehir, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Asia

View towards the Cave of the Apocalypse Church, Patmos Island, Dodecanese, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

Cave Church, Pigeon Valley, Goreme, Cappadocia Region, Nevsehir Province, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Asia

Detail from a Fresco in Elmali Church, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Crucifix fresco in a cave church in the Sassi area of Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Caglieron caves, Church in a cave, Veneto, Italy, Europe

Al Nazar Church (Cave Church), 10th century, Goreme, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nevsehir Merkez, Nevsehir, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Asia

Nun inside the Church of the Nativity (birth place of Jesus Christ), Bethlehem, Israel, Middle East

Church fresco in cave in Open Air Museum, Goreme, Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey, Asia Minor, Asia

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures: with a manuscript book depicting the miracles of mary

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures: an old painting, gondar style

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures: with a manuscript book depicting the miracles of mary

Religion, ethiopia. Na’akuto la’ab church, 7 kms from lalibela, built in a cave. The priest showing some of the church’s treasures: with a crown

The monastery at the entrance to Ialomicioara Cave in the Bucegi mountains of the Transylvania region of central Romania, Europe

TURKEY Goreme Open Air Museum, Cappadocia. Exterior of Cave Churches. Tokali church

Black Church Rock near Clovelly in Devon, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Inside Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga catholic church in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain, Europe. In 1777 a fire destroyed the old temple, which stood adjacent to the Holy Cave where Our Lady of Covadonga is revered. It was then decided to raise a new church as a monumental sanctuary, raising donations from all of Spain; the plan was opposed by the local council, as the canons wanted to rebuild the temple of the Holy Cave and build an ambitious sanctuary that had once been designed by Ventura Rodríguez, but never completed. One century later, the project was resumed by King Alfonso XII of Spain, who was interested in completing this work. The classic design of Ventura Rodríguez was very difficult and expensive and was replaced by a new neo-Medieval design.

Our Lady of Covadonga. The Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Marian shrine devoted to her at Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga catholic church in Cangas de Onis, Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain, Europe. In 1777 a fire destroyed the old temple, which stood adjacent to the Holy Cave where Our Lady of Covadonga is revered. It was then decided to raise a new church as a monumental sanctuary, raising donations from all of Spain; the plan was opposed by the local council, as the canons wanted to rebuild the temple of the Holy Cave and build an ambitious sanctuary that had once been designed by Ventura Rodríguez, but never completed. One century later, the project was resumed by King Alfonso XII of Spain, who was interested in completing this work. The classic design of Ventura Rodríguez was very difficult and expensive and was replaced by a new neo-Medieval design.

Replica of the grotto at the Lady of the Lourdes shrine in the Convent of the Concepcionistas. Viveiro, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, Europe

Pilgrimage church and holy cave Santa Cueva de Covadonga in the evening, Covadonga, Picos de Europa, province of Asturias, Principality of Asturias, Northern Spain, Spain, Europe

Virgen de Covadonga, Virgin Mary at the holy cave Santa Cueva de Covadonga, Covadonga, Picos de Europa, Province of Asturias, Principality of Asturias, Northern Spain, Spain, Europe

View towards Bacharach with St. Peter church, Wernerskapelle and castle Stahleck, Bacharach, Rhine, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

View towards Bacharach with St. Peter church, Wernerskapelle and Stahleck castle, Bacharach, Rhine, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Dark Church or Karanlik Kilise, Goereme National Park, Unesco World Heritage Site, Cappadocia, Turkey

Apple Church or Elmali Kilise, interior, Goereme National Park, Unesco World Heritage Site, Cappadocia, Turkey

Saint Barbara Church, interior, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey

Interior of Orthodox cave church of St John the Hermit in abandoned Katholiko monastery in Avlaki gorge of Akrotiri peninsula, Chania, Crete, Greece. Shot through open window. Selective focus

Worship of a tiger sculpture in the Tiger Cave, Tiger Cave Temple, Wat Tham Suea, Krabi Province, Thailand, Asia

Aerial view, Bulgarian Orthodox cave monastery, rock monastery, Bassarbowski monastery, Basarbowski, Bassarbowo, Basarbowo, Russe, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Aerial view, Bulgarian Orthodox cave monastery, rock monastery, Bassarbowski monastery, Basarbowski, Bassarbowo, Basarbowo, Russe, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Aerial view, Bulgarian Orthodox cave monastery, rock monastery, Bassarbowski monastery, Basarbowski, Bassarbowo, Basarbowo, Russe, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America

Wall paintings in the cave chapel of the Neofytos convent, Southern Cyprus, Greek Cyprus, Southern Europe

Medieval historic centre at dusk, Sassi di Matera, at back cathedral, cultural capital 2019, Matera, province of Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Ukraine Kiev the monastery of cave Kyjevo Pecers´ka Lavra view to church of godmothers birth with shining golden domes and crosses in background river Dnepr 2004

Saint Barbara Church, interior, Göreme National Park, Cappadocia, Anatolia, Turkey

Stone shaped cross in the underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America

Stairs leading to 10th century Christian Prince's basilica, Uplistsikhe cave city known as Lord's fortress, Gori, Shida Kartli district, Georgia, Asia

Reflection in water in the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America

Rock gate Geisskirche, passage cave, mystical, hamlet Tuerkelstein, district of Goessweinstein, Upper Franconia, Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Christian frescoes, Uzumlu Cave Church, Ortahisar, Goereme Valley, Cappadocia, Turkey

Historic chapel at the Altarhoehle cave, Wildkirchli caves, below the Ebenalp in the Alpstein mountains, Canton Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Switzerland, Europe

Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Columbia

Historic chapel at the Altarhoehle cave, Wildkirchli caves, below the Ebenalp in the Alpstein mountains, Canton Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Switzerland, Europe

Historic chapel at the Altarhoehle cave, Wildkirchli caves, below the Ebenalp in the Alpstein mountains, Canton Appenzell-Innerrhoden, Switzerland, Europe

Cave houses of Sasso Caveoso at dusk, Sassi di Matera, Basilicata, Italy, Europe

Chapel in a cave, Santuario Santa Maria della Stella, Calabria, Italy, Europe

Cave Church of St. Marija in Melliaha, Malta, Europe

Figures of the Holy Family in the underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America

Altar of the underground Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca, Colombia, South America

Cave church in Selime, Ihlarara Valley, Cappadocia, Turkey, Western Asia

Church, Monastery of the Caves, Vanis Kvabebi, Mtkvari River Valley, Georgia, Western Asia

Church, Monastery of the Caves, Vanis Kvabebi, Mtkvari River Valley, Georgia, Western Asia

Low angle view of the old ruins of a cave church, Zelve Valley, Cappadocia, Turkey

Ossuary of Santo Spirito church, Campagna village, Picentini mountains, Salerno, Campania, Italy, Europe

Ossuary of Santo Spirito church, Campagna village, Picentini mountains, Salerno, Campania, Italy, Europe

Ossuary of Santo Spirito church, Campagna village, Picentini mountains, Salerno, Campania, Italy, Europe

Ossuary of Santo Spirito church, Campagna village, Picentini mountains, Salerno, Campania, Italy, Europe

Ossuary of Santo Spirito church, Campagna village, Picentini mountains, Salerno, Campania, Italy, Europe

Ossuary of Santo Spirito church, Campagna village, Picentini mountains, Salerno, Campania, Italy, Europe

Cave Church Our Lady of the Virgin; Horizontal; Matera; Basilicata; Italy; Europe

Roccaporena gold cave, Cascia, Umbria, Italy, Europe

David Gareja Monastery Complex (The 6th Century Rock-Hewn Georgian Orthodox Monastery With Hundreds Of Cave Cells, Churches, Chapels, Refectories And Living Quarters), Kakheti, Georgia

Bells Of The Church Of The Dormition In The Vardzia Cave Monastery, Meskhetii, Georgia

Turkey, Cappadocia, Goreme, Red Valley. Hacli Kilise or The Church of the Cross. Interior of rock cut cave church on the North rim of the Red Valley with detail of ceiling fresco damaged by superstitous gouging to eradicate the evil eye.

Turkey, Cappadocia, Goreme, Red Valley. Hacli Kilise or The Church of the Cross. Exterior of rock cut cave church on the North rim of the Red Valley.

Main square in ancient city of Sassi di Matera or the Stones of Matera originating from a prehistoric cave settlement, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cafe bar with outside seating overlooked by church and bell tower, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

A statue of St Stephen in front of the Cave Church with a view of the Chain Bridge, Budapest, Hungary