What Is The Biggest Cathedral In The World? List Of Top 10
Cathedrals are magnificent symbols of history, faith, and architectural grandeur. The Milan Cathedral, referred to as the Duomo di Milano, is recognised as the largest cathedral in the world, boasting an interior space of 11,700 square metres. But which others rank among the biggest?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- What is a cathedral?
- What is the biggest cathedral in the world?
- List of biggest cathedrals in the world
- 1. The Milano Cathedral
- 2. The Seville Cathedral
- 3. The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
- 4. The Liverpool Cathedral
- 5. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
- 6. The Florence Cathedral
- 7. The Cathedral of Our Lady
- 8. Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian
- 9. Cologne Cathedral
- 10. St Paul's Cathedral
- Where is the biggest catholic church in the world located?
- Is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace the largest basilica in Africa?
- Final word
Key takeaways
- Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) is the largest cathedral in the world, covering 11,700 square metres.
- The top 10 largest cathedrals showcase diverse architectural styles, including Gothic, Baroque, and modern influences.
- Several cathedrals took centuries to complete.
What is a cathedral?
A cathedral is a large and vital church that serves as the seat of a bishop, making it the central place of worship in a diocese. It is typically grand in design, featuring impressive architecture, intricate stained glass windows, and towering spires. Cathedrals have historically been centres of religious, cultural, and social life, often taking centuries to build.
What is the biggest cathedral in the world?
The Milan Cathedral is the biggest cathedral in the world. Located in Milan, Italy, it is the largest church in the Italian Republic and the third-largest globally. It can accommodate up to 40,000 people.
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List of biggest cathedrals in the world
To get a credible ranking of the biggest cathedrals in the world, we used data from World Population Review and Discovery UK. We considered factors such as interior area, total floor space, and capacity. Below is the list.
| Rank | Cathedral name | Location | Interior Space (m²) |
| 1 | Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) | Milan, Italy | 11,700 |
| 2 | Seville Cathedral | Seville, Spain | 11,520 |
| 3 | Cathedral of Saint John the Divine | New York, USA | 11,200 |
| 4 | Liverpool Cathedral | Liverpool, England | 9,687 |
| 5 | Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar | Zaragoza, Spain | 8,318 |
| 6 | Florence Cathedral | Florence, Italy | 8,300 |
| 7 | Cathedral of Our Lady | Antwerp, Belgium | 8,000 |
| 8 | Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 8,000 |
| 9 | Cologne Cathedral | Cologne, Germany | 7,290 |
| 10 | St Paul’s Cathedral | London, England | 7,875 |
1. The Milano Cathedral
- Location: Milan, Italy
- Year Opened: 1965
The Milan Cathedral, or Duomo di Milano, spans 11,700 square metres, making it the largest cathedral in the world by interior space. Its construction dates back to 1386, when Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo initiated plans for a new church dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente. The final details were completed in 1965.
The structure is massive, weighing around 325,000 tonnes, and accommodates approximately 3,400 statues, 150 gargoyles, 55 stained glass windows, and 200 boss reliefs. As one of the most visited landmarks, it attracts nearly 100,000 visitors weekly, bringing the annual total to over six million.
2. The Seville Cathedral
- Location: Sevilla, Spain
- Year Opened: 1519
Seville Cathedral, covering an area of 11,520 square metres, is the largest Gothic structure in the world and one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. It hosts the seat of the Archbishop of Seville.
This cathedral also houses the largest altarpiece in Christianity, which stands nearly 30 metres high and 20 metres wide. Better still, just inside the cathedral's entrance is the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
3. The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
- Location: New York, United States
- Year Opened: 1899
The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine tops the list of the largest cathedrals in the USA. In fact, it once held a prestigious spot in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest cathedral in the world by floor area. Its sheer scale is awe-inspiring, but what truly sets it apart is its record-breaking nave—the long central part of the church—which stretches an astonishing 183.2 metres. This makes it the longest of any cathedral on the planet.
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This church has been under construction since 1892 and remains unfinished after approximately 126 years. This cathedral, which serves as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and functions as the bishop's seat, was built in three phases. Covering an area of 11,200 square metres, the cathedral is part of an 11.3-acre complex that includes gardens and additional buildings.
Lastly, the cathedral houses the largest rose window in the United States. This ranks as the world's fifth-largest, comprising over 10,000 pieces of stained glass.
4. The Liverpool Cathedral
- Location: Liverpool, England
- Year Opened: 1978
Liverpool Cathedral, the largest Anglican cathedral in the world, spans an area of 9,687 square metres. It is situated in the heart of Liverpool city. The decision to construct the cathedral was made in 1901 following a town hall meeting where it was agreed that the city required a new place of worship. The design, created by Giles Gilbert Scott at the age of 22, was selected in 1903.
The cathedral includes a single tower that reaches 100.8 metres, ranking among the tallest bell towers globally. The bells, positioned 67 metres above the ground, are the heaviest, weighing 31 tonnes.
Another prominent feature of the cathedral is its grand organ, which has 10,267 pipes and is the largest in the United Kingdom. The instrument took three years to construct, from 1923 to 1926, and is a key element of the cathedral's architectural significance.
5. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar
- Location: Zaragoza, Spain
- Year Opened: 1872
The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, located in Zaragoza, is the second-largest cathedral in Spain. It covers 8,318 square metres, with only Seville Cathedral surpassing its size. The cathedral takes its name from a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, which stands on a jasper column inside the church.
According to tradition, the Virgin Mary presented this statue to Saint James. Commonly referred to as "Caldel Piler," meaning "the pillar," the cathedral is one of Zaragoza's prominent landmarks. It is a significant religious site dedicated to the Virgin of the Pillar.
6. The Florence Cathedral
- Location: Florence, Italy
- Year Opened: 1436
The Florence Cathedral, completed in the 15th century, was initially the largest in Europe. It is now the second largest in Italy. Its dome, constructed with over four million bricks, remains the largest masonry dome in the world, weighing 40,000 tonnes.
The cathedral spans 8,300 square metres and features 44 stained glass windows. This formed the most extensive collection built in 14th and 15th century Italy. Construction lasted 170 years, beginning with the laying of the first stone of the façade on 8 September 1296.
7. The Cathedral of Our Lady
- Location: Antwerp, Belgium
- Year Opened: 1521
The Cathedral of Our Lady has an interior floor space of 8,000 square metres and can hold up to 25,000 people. Construction began in 1352 and lasted nearly 170 years, concluding in 1521.
The original design included two towers of equal height, but work on the south tower was halted indefinitely after a major fire that required extensive repairs. As a result, it was never completed to match the height of the north tower. The cathedral's two towers remain notable for their differing heights.
8. Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian
- Location: Rio, Brazil
- Year Opened: 1979
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Sebastian, the largest in South America, features a distinctive modern architectural style influenced by Mayan pyramids. This sets it apart from the traditional Gothic cathedrals commonly found around the world.
The cathedral, covering an interior space of 8,000 square metres, is the central place of worship in Rio de Janeiro. Although the Diocese of Rio de Janeiro was established in 1676, it lacked an official cathedral until 1964, when the archdiocese received land to construct this cathedral.
The cathedral's basement houses the Sacred Art Museum, which contains a collection of sculptures, murals, and artwork. The museum also contains the baptismal fonts that were historically used to baptise Portuguese royal family members.
9. Cologne Cathedral
- Location: Cologne, Germany
- Year Opened: 1880
Cologne Cathedral, the largest in Germany, spans 7,290 square metres and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its construction began in 1248 and progressed in multiple phases over more than seven centuries until its completion in 1880. Inside, the high altar, crafted from black limestone in the early 14th century, is considered the largest of its kind.
The cathedral also houses several other significant elements from the same period, including carved oak choir stalls, painted choir screens, and fourteen statues adorning the choir pillars.
Additionally, it has an extensive cycle of stained glass windows. It also houses the Saint Peter's Bell, the world's largest swinging bell. The bell weighs 24 metric tonnes.
10. St Paul's Cathedral
- Location: London, England
- Year Opened: 1710
St Paul's Cathedral, covering an area of 7,875 square metres, was built between 1677 and 1708. Its construction followed the destruction of the previous cathedral in the Great Fire of London in 1666. A key architectural feature is its dome, which rises to a height of 365.16 feet and ranks among the largest domes globally. The structure has an estimated weight of 65,000 tonnes.
Where is the biggest catholic church in the world located?
The largest Catholic church in the world is St. Peter's Basilica, located in Vatican City, Italy. It has an interior area of 15,160 square metres and an exterior area of 21,095 square metres, making it the largest church by interior size. It is also the largest basilica in the world.
Is the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace the largest basilica in Africa?
Yes, the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire, is recognised as the largest basilica in Africa. While its design was inspired by St. Peter's Basilica, it includes features such as a rectory and villa within its grounds that contribute to its record-breaking size.
Final word
The world's biggest cathedrals are awe-inspiring structures that showcase architectural mastery, religious significance, and historical depth. From the Milan Cathedral, which holds the title of the biggest cathedral in the world, to the Seville Cathedral, the largest Gothic church, each of these landmarks tells a unique story.
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