Meteora, ancient holy monastery of Varlaam seen from Great Meteoron, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora, ancient holy Monastery of Varlaam, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Drone aerial view of Meteora with ancient holy Monastery of Varlaam, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Interior of the Holy Monastery of Varlaam, Meteora, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thessaly, Greece, Europe

One of the Stations of the Cross, Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira, Cundinamarca department, Savannah of Bogota, Colombia, South America

The 10th century Akdamar Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, Akdamar Island, Lake Van, Turkey, Asia Minor, Asia

Meteora, ancient holy Monastery of Varlaam and Saint Nicholas Anapafsas, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora, ancient holy Monastery of Rousanos Saint Barbara, UNESCO, Kalabaka, Greece

Cite de Carcassonne citadel, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Carcassonne, Aude, Occitania, France, Europe

Church of the Holy Sepulchre ceiling, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Detail of the Puerta del Nacimiento (Renaissance doorway) of the Catedral Nueva (New Cathedral), Salamanca, Castilla y Leon (Old Castile), Spain, Europe

The Basilica del Voto Nacional, a Catholic Cathedral, begun in 1887, Quito, Ecuador, South America

The ruins of Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island, Northumberland, UK

Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, Lake Van, eastern Turkey

The ruins of Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island, Northumberland, UK

Ivanovo Rock Church The Holy Mother, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Roussenski Lom River Valley, Bulgaria, Europe

Night view of the Basilica of the Holy House and fountain decorated with statues, Loreto, Province of Ancona, Marche, Italy, Europe

Stone trolls piled up on the shore at Lindisfarne, Holy Island, Northumberland, northeast England, United Kingdom, Europe

Mar Saba, one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, eastern Judean Desert, Israel

Church of the Holy Sepulchre with crosses and lanterns, the Stone of the Unction, Christian Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Panels depicting scenes from the Gospels, Ivanovo Rock Church The Holy Mother, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Roussenski Lom River Valley, Bulgaria, Europe

Panels depicting scenes from the Gospels, Ivanovo Rock Church The Holy Mother, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Roussenski Lom River Valley, Bulgaria, Europe

Mar Saba, one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, eastern Judean Desert, Israel

Nenbutsu dera (temple), Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

Stone of the Unction, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

Night view of the ancient and holy Basilica of the Holy House framed by arcades, Loreto, Province of Ancona, Marche, Italy, Europe

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, which contains the two holiest sites in Christianity

Mar Saba, one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, eastern Judean Desert, Israel

Buddha statue in grotto, Tanzhe Temple, Beijing, China, Asia

Old Portuguese church in grounds of Fort Tiracol, Goa, India

View of the Basilica of the Holy House and fountain decorated with statues, Loreto, Province of Ancona, Marche, Italy, Europe

Historic stone Church of Holy Cross, Rauma, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Satakunta, Finland, Scandinavia, Europe

Buddhist monks visiting the Atadage building in The Quadrangle, ancient city of Polonnaruwa, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Soutra Aisle dating from 1686, restored family burial vault marks site of the medieval Soutra Hospital of the Holy Trinity, Fala, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Holy men at Pashupati Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, Barletta, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of the Holy Savior, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

Chapel of Santa Eulalia de Oviedo, Cathedral of the Holy Savior, UNESCO, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

The Stone of Anointing, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

The Stone of Anointing, Holy Sepulchre Church, Jerusalem, Israel, Middle East

The Holy Chapel, Les Contamines-Montjoie, Haute-Savoie, France, Europe

Bathing in the holy waters of Pura Tirta Empul, Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Woman prostrating at the Stone of Anointing. Holy Sepulchre. Jerusalem Old City, Israel, Middle East

Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Northumberland, UK.

A holy stone in the garden of the sculptures in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India, Asia

Everest Trail Scenic. Mountains, Prayer Flags, Stone prayer carvings.

Everest Trail Scenic. Mountains, Prayer Flags, Stone prayer carvings.

Everest Trail Scenic. Mountains, Prayer Flags, Stone prayer carvings.

Everest Trail Scenic. Mountains, Prayer Flags, Stone prayer carvings.

Everest Trail Scenic. Mountains, Prayer Flags, Stone prayer carvings.

Aerial views of El Castillo and the Ruins of the Mayan temple grounds at Tulum, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Mexico. Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The ruins are situated on 12 meter 39 ft tall cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society, and eventually causing the city to be abandoned.

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.

Cemetery, Barbate, Cadiz, Spain

Monk blessing a woman, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Woman, women, biking, Bridge and South Gate of Angkor Thom, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Detail, Bayon temple, Angkor Thom, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Silver Pavilion and Zen garden symbolizing Mount Fuji and the sea, in Ginkaku ji temple, Kyoto, Kansai, Japan

Detail, statues of Asuras on bridge of South Gate, in Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Representation, Ramayana epic, Bas-relief carvings, in Bayon temple, Angkor Thom, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Tourists, inside Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Buddha statue, Central sanctuary, in Prasat Hin Phimai (Phimai Historical Park), Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand

Zen garden symbolizing Mount Fuji and the sea, in Ginkaku ji temple, Kyoto, Kansai, Japan

Gardener working,Zen garden symbolizing Mount Fuji and the sea, in Ginkaku ji temple, Kyoto, Kansai, Japan

Aspara sculpture in bas-relief on the wall, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Garden, Heian Jingu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan

Monk and Buddha statue, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Aspara sculptures in bas-relief on the wall, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Adashino Nenbutsu dera temple, Arashiyama Sagano area,Kyoto. Kansai, Japan.

Detail, statues of Asuras on bridge of South Gate, in Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Garden, Heian Jingu Shrine, Kyoto, Japan

Adashino Nenbutsu dera temple, Arashiyama Sagano area,Kyoto. Kansai, Japan.

Aspara sculptures in bas-relief on the wall, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

One of many marble slabs containing text and commentary from the Tripitaka, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Replica of Mahabodhi Paya, at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Religious statues at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Parish Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Church of Saint Mary, Mosta, Malta

U Min Thonze Pagoda, Sagaing, near Mandalay, Myanmar, (Burma)

Some of the numerous stupas at the Shwe Indein Pagoda, Indein, Shan State, Myanmar, (Burma)

Apse of Monreale Cathedral, Monreale, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Dome and arch, Saint Uspensky Sobor Russian Orthodox Assumption Cathedral, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A kalan, an historic building at My Son, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

Duomo of San Pietro, Corso Umberto I, Modica, Sicily, Italy

Saint Paraskeva Church, Nessebar, Bulgaria

Statue of Pope Pius the ninth, Saint Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Timur,??s jade tomb, Gur Emir Mausoleum, (Gur Amir, Guri Amir, Gur-E Amir, and Gur-I Amir), Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Mythological demon statue at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Replica of Mahabodhi Paya, at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

A religious statue at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Wall at Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, also known as Shwe Yaunghwe Monastery, Nyaung Shwe, Shan State, Myanmar, (Burma)

Carved Cham stone relief exhibit at My Son, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

A carved Buddha statue on a stupa at the Shwe Indein Pagoda, Indein, Shan State, Myanmar, (Burma)

Florence Cathedral, mosaic of Jesus Christ above main entrance, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Statue of Mary holding baby Jesus, Punta Secca, Santa Croce Camerina, Sicily, Italy

An historic building at My Son, Quang Nam province, Vietnam

Fontana Pretoria and Santa Caterina Church, Piazza Pretoria, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Monk, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia