Hvalsey Fjord Church

Ruins of Hvalsey Fjord Church - the only remaining early medieval European structure in America, Greenland

Ruins of the oldest original church in the Americas, built in the late 10th century by Vikings. The church was built from enormous stone blocks, some up to 5 tons heavy. Fell in disuse in the 15th century.

Skellig Michael monastery

Skellig Michael monastery with Little Skellig in the background, Ireland

Exceptionally well-preserved remnants of an early medieval monastery located in a dramatic landscape – a cliff in the sea. This Christian monastery was founded here sometime in the 6th – 8th century AD and was occupied until the 13th century. The monastery was built on artificial terraces and contained six beehive cells, two oratories, a church as well as stone crosses and slabs.

Mnajdra

Mnajdra, lower temple. Such structures were created long before Stonehenge and Egyptian pyramids

Group of megalithic temples, built around 3600 – 2500 BC. These are sophisticated structures built from large stone slabs. The complex consists of three temples, each built in its own time. The lower temple was built around 3000 BC and might be the most impressive megalithic structure in Malta, it is astronomically aligned. Stones here are decorated with dots ad also spiral carvings.

Monaco Cathedral

Monaco Cathedral

Large cathedral in the old city, consecrated in 1875 and built in Neo-Romanesque style. Located in the site where the first church in Monaco was built in 1252.

Church of Santa Coloma d’Andorra

Church of Santa Coloma d'Andorra

The oldest church in Andorra, first mentioned in 1044 AD although it might be older. Church initially was built in local Pre-Romanesque style and has a prominent bell tower from the 12th century). Several original frescoes from the 12th century have been preserved inside the church.

Gorham’s Cave

Entrance in Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar - the last refuge of Neanderthals

One of four caves in Gorham’s Cave complex. Cave has formed in Jurassic limestone and has an 18 m thick layer of sediments that contain very important finds including the latest find of Neanderthals who lived here 60 – 24 thousand years ago when the sea was far away from the cave and the area was rich with resources. This is the last known settlement of Neanderthals in the world. The time of their habitation includes an incision of eight lines, made at least 39,000 years ago, most likely made by Neanderthals – the oldest known abstract drawing in the world. 23 thousand years ago here started to live modern humans, who left some paintings on the walls of the cave. Phoenicians and Carthaginians used this cave as their shrine, leaving offerings here.

Monte Brasil “Phoenician sanctuaries”

The mysterious caverns in Monte Brasil, Azores

Rock cut chambers, possible prehistoric structures made long before the coming of Portuguese in the 14th century. Similar rock-cut structures have been found on Corvo and Santa Maria islands and, reportedly, on Flores. Researchers consider that these can be Carthaginian (Phoenician) temples from the 4th century BC.

Batalha Monastery

Batalha Monastery, Portugal

A beautiful structure of Dominican convent, built in Late Gothic style in 1386 – ˜1517. One of the greatest Gothic structures.

Shrine of Ali, Mazar-i-Sharif (Blue Mosque)

Shrine of Ali, Afghanistan

Gorgeous mosque with turquoise-colored domes, one of the most venerated shrines in Afghanistan. The first mosque was destroyed by Genghis Khan around 1220 and the current building was built in the 15th century. Constructed above the purported grave of Ali ibn Abi Talib. Nevertheless, some consider that here is buried Zoroaster.