A pristine medieval church that was visited by Columbus before his travels to the Americas. The Canary Islands are known primarily as tropical paradise for vacations, but also have beautiful nature and some of the best preserved historical buildings. La Gomerra is a great example of this, with many 15th-century buildings still in use today.
Perhaps the most notable of these buildings is the church in San Sebastian which dates back to the early 15th century as a chapel, and was expanded in the following centuries. While the wooden ceilings, centuries old paintings and altar pieces are definitely worth a visit on their own, the age of the church also connects it to many historical figures, mostly notable of who being Columbus who is said to have visited before going off to the Americas. Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.
Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. A coastal French town said to have been visited by Jesus' disciples is a major pilgrimage center for Catholic Romanis. The patron saint of cats founded this stunning Romanesque church in the 7th century.
On top of a hill, this Catholic church overlooks the most Catholic island in Greece. An architectural anomaly that preserves the chilling history of medieval ascetics who chose to be buried alive. The first building to be positively identified as Anglo-Saxon in origin.
St John the Baptist Church in Danbury, Essex, is a wonderful place to explore medieval architecture and artistry, in particular their bench ends, knight effigies, and unique squint. This Irish church has a striking circular design inspired by the ancient Grianán of Aileach. This modest German chapel has been in use for more than 1000 years. ## Become an Atlas Obscura Member * * * Join our community of curious explorers.
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