5 art-filled churches in Europe that will make you want to book a trip to these cities

Barcelona’s whimsical Sagrada Familia church is inundated with nearly four million visitors a year.

Religious buildings are some of the key tourist attractions in European cities, including St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Westminster Abbey in London and Cologne Cathedral.

With enthralling histories and artistic splendours, they have become temples of culture as well as being sacred sites.

Here are more art-rich churches in Europe that might not be on your radar which you should consider booking a city break around.

With Venice cut from cruise ship itineraries, passengers might dock in Ravenna - a city around two hours south with a port.

Modest-sized and relaxed, Ravenna surprises visitors with its distinguished history as the capital of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century and mesmerising Byzantine mosaics.

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Eight religious buildings make up the Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna UNESCO World Heritage Site, each adorned with dazzling tilework.

Inside the Basilica of San Vitale, visitors can marvel at shimmering scenes of Old Testament episodes and angels, while the flamboyant mosaics of the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo depict jewel-laden wise men and opulently-dressed maidens.

Cappadocia is far more than a hot air balloon show. The central Turkish region is honeycombed with ancient cave communities, some of which you can still stay in.

One of the most comprehensive cave cities is now an open-air museum. Göreme’s highlights are its churches and monasteries hollowed out from the rock and painted in vivid colour.

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Tokalı Kilise (Church of the Buckle) contains 11th-century frescoes of biblical scenes on a brilliant