From St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the most important Catholic churches are usually built with bright white marble or different kinds of gray limestone. But some churches really stand out for the bright colors of their facades. In Europe, the Gothic period marked the appearance of strong colors such as ruby, ochre, purple and forest green, used mainly in painting and decoration. And during the Neo-Gothic period this palette was often displayed in architecture, such as the 19th-century polychrome marble facade of Florence’s Basilica of St. Mary of the Flowers. But examples of colorful churches are not limited to the old continent. View the slide show to see pictures of the most impressive colorful church facades from around the world.
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats, I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.— Revelation, 4:3–4 (KJV)
And today we celebrate...