Europe Central, Peaceful + Religious pictures

• World

One of the world’s smallest countries lies within eastern Italy’s countryside. Visit the longstanding city-state for natural beauty, culture and food specialties.

Enjoy the spicy Spanish influence on the cuisine, visit a pilgrimage site and ski in the snowy Pyrénées mountains.

Romanesque and Byzantine architecture meld together in the monumental façade of this superb basilica, which was built in the years following St. Anthony’s death.

See rare examples of an ornamental art form that has become synonymous with Portugal in this museum dedicated to azulejo ceramic tiles. 

One of the most eye-catching monuments in Lourdes is the basilica that sits above the grotto, part of a wider sanctuary of impressive churches.

An arresting façade, richly decorated chapels and the tomb of a former king make this centuries-old church one of Pamplona’s most symbolic landmarks. 

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

With an opulence worthy of the former monarchs buried inside, this 15th-century chapel is the go-to spot for royal ceremonies and weddings.

Marvel at rich Baroque decoration, precious artworks by the likes of Moretto and Grazio Cossali, and a pretty cloister in this 16th-century religious complex.

Explore a charming Italian town with an impressive Romanesque Gothic cathedral, elegant palaces, underground Roman pools and delicious local food.

Although it’s not the Auvergne region’s highest summit, this dormant lava dome is its most iconic. Join the thousands of hikers who visit every year.

Containing parts of Limousin history from Roman times to the present, this magnificent Gothic house of worship is an important part of the skyline of Limoges.

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

This serene mountain town has rustic charm and natural beauty and is the site of one of Europe’s most famous divine encounters.

Renaissance art, iconic architecture and a medieval baptistery adorn this cathedral on Piazza Vecchia. It’s Bergamo’s main church.

See rare examples of an ornamental art form that has become synonymous with Portugal in this museum dedicated to azulejo ceramic tiles. 

Find out why literary masters, such as Goethe and Victor Hugo, heaped praise on this remarkable, pink-hued cathedral.

This serene mountain town has rustic charm and natural beauty and is the site of one of Europe’s most famous divine encounters.