Brazil- Basilica Aparecida

Amazing Top 10 World's Largest Church

10. Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen, Poland
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen is the largest church in Poland, Europe's seventh and tenth in the world. This church was built from 1994 to 2004. Has a length of 120 m (393 ft) wide and 77 m (252 ft). Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lichen is built to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary and is home to 200-year-old painting known as "Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland."

9. Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Ivory Coast
The Basilica of our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, a Roman Catholic basilica that is listed by Guinness World Records as the largest church in the world. Its area is 30,000 square meters (322,917 sq ft), accommodating 18,000 worshipers. However, the area is calculated as a whole which includes the rectory and villas, which are not part of the church. The basilica was built between 1985 and 1989 and was ordained in 1990 by Pope John Paul II.

8. Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Belgium


The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic basilica and is the parish church in Brussels, Belgium. King Leopold II laid the first stone in 1905 during the celebration of 75th anniversary of Independence of Belgium. This development was halted because of World War II, construction was completed in 1969. Has a length of 164.5 m (540 ft) wide and 107.80 m (353.7 ft). The church is the Catholic Church sixth and seventh largest in the world between Christian churches.

7. Milan Cathedral, Italy


Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) is often referred to as one of the largest church in the world. Its construction began in 1386 and was completed in 1965. This cathedral has a length of 157 m (515 ft) wide and 92 m (302 ft), accommodating 40,000 people. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and one of the most famous buildings in Europe.


6. Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Portugal


The Church of the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church is the fourth largest and the sixth largest Christian church in the world. Built between 2004 and 2007 and was ordained on October 12, 2007, on the occasion of 90th anniversary of Fatima apparitions. The Church, dedicated to the Blessed Trinity is fully paid for with gifts from the pilgrims. Has a length of 95 m (310 ft) wide and 115 m (380 ft), accommodating up to 9,000 people.

5. Liverpool Cathedral, United Kingdom
The Cathedral Church of Christ in Liverpool, England is the fifth largest cathedral in the world. This church occupies a total area of 103,334 square feet (9600 square meters) and the main building material of sandstone. The bell tower of the cathedral which is the largest and highest in the world that is 219 ft and weighing 31 tons. This bell is named Bartlett Bells.

4. Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, United States
The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York claimed to be the biggest and the Anglican Cathedral Church and the fourth largest Christian church in the world. Has a length of 183.2 m (601 ft) wide and 70.7 m (232 ft). This church was originally designed as a Byzantine-Roman world, but transformed into Gothic. A huge fire which damaged the church in 2001; construction and restoration still continues today, so got his nickname: St. John the Unfinished.

3. Cathedral of Seville, Spain


Also known as Catedral de Santa Maria de la Sede (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See), Cathedral of Seville is claimed by some as the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Its construction began in 1402 and continued until the 16th century. The total area covers 11,520 sq m. A large mosque that used to sit on the site at the end of the 12th century. Architect Christian then add an extra dimension of height. Central nave rises to a height of 42 m (137.7 ft).

2. Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida, BrazilBasilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida


The new Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida was built in 1955 and designed in the form of a Greek cross. Has a length of 173 m (567 ft) wide and 168 m (551 ft), and accommodate 45,000 people. Pope John Paul II named the church is the most Important National Marian Shrine in Brazil. Officially declared as "The Largest Marian Temple in the World" in 1984.

1. St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City


This is the largest church in the world has ever seen. Located in Italy's capital Rome. With a length of 730 ft (220 m) wide and 500 ft (150 m), he has the biggest part of every Christian church in the world, and holds up to 60,000 people. St. Peter's Basilica style of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. The basilica is one of the holiest Christian sites and the greatest of all Christian churches. Built from 1506 until 1626 by Michelangelo among the architects. This building is officially known in Italian as the Basilica of San Pietro in Vaticano. The church is famous as a place of pilgrimage, because the function and history of the liturgy of the association.

Places of Spiritual Importance

Notre Dame Cathedral

During the 19th century, Notre Dame de Paris was in such a state of disrepair that city planners considered tearing it down. Novelist Victor Hugo, an admirer of the French Gothic structure, wrote “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” to help draw attention to the cathedral’s plight. Success of the book sparked renewed interest in the building and led to a fundraising campaign that financed the cathedral’s 1845 restoration.

St.Patrick's Cathedral

Designed by noted architect James Renwick Jr. in the Gothic Revival style, this New York City cathedral is built of white marble and has an altar designed by Tiffany & Co. The cathedral’s hallmark spires rise 330 feet from the ground. Construction on St. Patrick’s began in 1858; work was halted during the Civil War, resumed in 1865 and was completed in 1878. When the building was dedicated in 1879, its huge proportions dominated the midtown Manhattan of that era.

Hagia Sophia

Famous for its massive dome, the Hagia Sophia is widely considered the best example of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest cathedral in the world for almost 1,000 years until the completion of Spain’s Seville Cathedral in 1520. Originally built as a church between 532 and 537 A.D., Hagia Sophia later became a patriarchal basilica, then a mosque, and is now a museum with rich interior details, including intricate mosaics and marble floor decorations and pillars.

Westminster Abbey

Traditionally the place of coronation and burial for the English monarchy, the Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster, more commonly known as Westminster Abbey, is a mostly Gothic-style church located to the west of the Houses of Parliament. In 1998, Queen Elizabeth II unveiled statues of ten 20th-century Christian martyrs from around the world who are depicted above the abbey’s Great West Door. Among those honored is Nobel Prize-winner the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Great Times in New York at the Steinway Factory!

I arrived in Queens New York on Sunday, October 31st, Halloween night! It was fun to see the kids out trick or treating in all the restaurants and stores along Queens Blvd. So many funky, hole-in-the-wall places, and cool upscale places too! I had dinner at Dazie's, a nice Italian place a couple blocks from the hotel. My busboy (dressed as a bloody vampire!) had just come over from Italy a couple of months prior! I played the old Kimball baby grand they had by the bar. They were so friendly and insisted I come back the next night!




The next morning our instructor for the week, Kent Webb, picked us up and after a "get acquainted" breakfast at Foxy's Diner, gave us a classic, aggressive, NY driver ride down Steinway Street which leads to the factory. It's funny to see so many businesses take advantage of the Steinway name: everything from coffee shops to body shops!

Being at the Steinway factory feels a little like going to the "Holy Land" of pianos! For all practical purposes Steinway invented the modern grand piano. All the greatest pianists of the past 100 years have been associated with these instruments. One of the treats was seeing the log books where almost every Steinway that has ever been sold is entered. I even found my Steinway there: In beautiful handwritten script it showed that in 1913 My Model "O" was shipped to Sherman Clay in Seattle via San Francisco! I encourage anyone with a Steinway to call the factory and have them look it up in the book.


Kent is the Manager of Technical Service and Support for Steinway & Sons. In this position, Kent oversees and conducts the Steinway Training Academy. He also works closely with All-Steinway Schools and Institutions to develop and maintain service strategies and resources. In addition, Kent coordinates service literature and publications, works closely with Festival Events, and participates extensively in educational events. When I first met Kent in the early 90's he was National Service Manager for Baldwin Piano Company. Kent has been with Steinway for 10 years. Most importantly, he knows all the best places to EAT!

After class, Kent dropped me off at the "N" line subway that would take me to downtown Manhattan where the New York City Chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild was holding its monthly meeting at Faust Harrison Pianos. My friend Zeno Wood, technician for Brooklyn College had arranged for me to present a class on using software to evaluate one's readiness to take the Piano Technicians Guild tuning exam. I showed up early and got a tour of the store. Then I happened to overhear the owner, talking to the service manager about needing a Yamaha piano tuned before delivery the next day. Since I had nothing to do until the meeting I got out my tools and went to work! So now I'm an official New York piano tuner! Following the meeting we had an enjoyable round of drinks with my NY technician buddies. After staying out WAY too late, and then getting lost in the subway system, my guardian angel in the form of a cab driver got me home safe and sound!

On Wednesday, my classmate and I (there were only 2 of us in this session, the third student broke his ankle and had to cancel!) had lunch with Kent at a great Irish Pub in Queens, and then caught the subway to downtown where we visited legendary Steinway hall. Steinway hall is also the home of "The Basement" a large storage area/workroom where the fleet of concert grands is kept and maintained, and where the best of the best come to select their favored instruments for recording or performance. As one accomplished concert pianist put it, "There isn't a first class piano player in the world who does not expect to visit the Steinway Hall concert Basement before a New York performance. It is a piano mecca - sort of the center of the piano universe"


Then, after a beautiful sunny fall stroll through Times Square, and Bryant Park (the ice skaters were out!),
we visited one of the most beautiful buildings on earth: St. Patricks Cathedral.





We finished the evening over in the theater district and had an incredible dinner at Kent's favorite Chilean Restaurant: Pomaire. I got acquainted with the national drink of Chile: Pisco Sour. The meat and corn pie was delightful and the desserts were spectacular! How does anyone in NY stay thin??


Oh yes! I almost forgot! I was in New York to learn all about voicing Steinway pianos! Well, I did learn a lot and picked up many tips and tricks that will help me bring out the best in these instruments. Working with Steinway hammers is completely different than working with any other brand of piano. Steinway uses a very soft hammer and builds the tone using lacquer to firm the felt. Once the


power is brought up, the tone is smoothed and controlled with strategic needling right into the strike point of the hammer. On most other hammers this would kill the tone, but with Steinway hammers this is the norm. It was also emphasized that working with the hammers is at the end of a chain of events that prepare the piano for final voicing: parts must be properly aligned and adjusted, strings must be level, and the keyframe must be properly mated to the keybed. Only then can the tone reach its full potential.


My next trip to New York is scheduled for November 2011. I'm really looking forward to that session because Jean is planning on coming with me! New York is such a romantic city. I look forward to being there with my best friend who also happens to be my wife!


Cheers!