In the suburbs, the Church of Santa Maria Salome and the collegiate Church of Santa Maria la Real del Sar both date from the 12th century, but have later façade. Santiago is widely recognized for its ruas ("narrow alleyways"), which encircle the cathedral and lend to the old center's medieval appeal. These include: Rués, Arco de los Reyes, Bóveda, Rúa do Franco, and Rúa dos Tronos.
The original cathedral was built around AD 785 on the site where St. James had been buried after being killed in battle against the Moors. The current building dates from between 1220 and 1245 under Bishop Pedro de Moya. It replaced an earlier structure that had been destroyed by fire. The cathedral is famous for its magnificent stained-glass windows, which were created in England between 1310 and 1325. The largest window in the nave depicts Jesus Christ in Majesty above the altar with twelve other figures representing the Apostles. It took thirty artists three years to complete these windows; they are regarded as some of the most beautiful in Europe.
The interior of the cathedral is characterized by a Latin cross floor plan with a narthex (portico), transept, and two aisles.
The Dominican Republic is home to the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor. The Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone is dedicated to St. Mary of the Incarnation. It is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, having been built between 1512 and 1540. Construction on the cathedral was funded by Spanish King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain.
The first stone church for Santo Domingo was built around 1498 on the site now occupied by the University of Santo Tomas. This original church was destroyed in a fire in 1721. During construction of the current basilica, bodies buried in the old church were moved to new graves near the present-day cathedral. The new basilica was completed in 1541; it replaced an earlier church that had been built within the walls of Santo Domingo city itself. This second church had been constructed by order of Prince Henry the Navigator from 1350 to 1357. He intended it to be his own burial place if he died abroad on military service with Portugal's army. However, he died in Africa instead, so the church was never used for that purpose.
The university campus is a World Heritage Site since 1987. It contains many buildings dating from the early 16th century to the late 18th century as well as some contemporary structures. The oldest building on the campus is the San Ignacio Church (1514).
They constructed mission churches, sometimes known as conventos, in indigenous settlements, such as the Franciscan Church of San Miguel in Huejotzingo (shown above) and the Augustinian Church of San Salvador in Malinalco (below). The churches were mostly made of stone but also used wood if no suitable stone was available. They usually had one nave and one sanctuary, with an entrance on the side opposite the altar. The interior walls were often decorated with paintings or murals.
The Spanish missionaries who traveled to New Mexico with the aid of local tribes began building small wooden churches around 1620. Some of these were destroyed by fire but most survived into the early years of Spanish rule in America. One of the first metal churches to be built in North America was erected in Santa Fe in 1598. It was originally located outside of town but was later demolished.
There are more than 7,000 buildings registered as historic sites in New Mexico. Of these, about 1,200 are considered "historic districts." The largest such district is Aztec Street in Santa Fe, which has more than 160 structures.
Aztec Street was laid out in the late 18th century when Santa Fe was an important trading post. It follows the path taken by traders entering the city from the south over the old Pueblo Indian trail.
A hidden treasure was uncovered in Rome. According to one art historian, it is "the Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages." Francesco Prosperetti, Rome's supervisor of archaeology, described it as "unique, not just among the hundreds of churches in Rome, but also in all of Italy." The chapel is located within the Vatican Palace.
The chapel was built at the end of the 15th century by Michelangelo and is decorated with paintings created by artists from various parts of Europe. It is here that you will find some of Michelangelo's most beautiful works, such as The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment.
There are no photographs allowed inside the chapel, but there is an online version of the frescos available here: http://www.vatican.va/archive/michelangelos-sistine-chapel/index.html.
If you want to see more of Michelangelo's work, don't miss out on visiting his house near the Vatican City where many of his original drawings are kept in safekeeping. There are several museums around Rome dedicated to different aspects of his life and career, including the Basilica di San Matteo in downtown Rome.
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