Today, Easter Sunday, is one of the holiest days in Christianity. The religious impact upon our landscape and culture has resulted in the creation of many magnificent architectural masterpieces. This means that travelers of any faith or of none can enjoy the majesty of faith-based buildings, monuments, memorials and shrines.

A trip to Dublin would not be complete without a visit to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. One of the must sees on your itinerary in Paris capital, the City of Light, is Notre Dame. Mention many other world famous capitol cities and I think of their churches, cathedrals, basilicas and mosques. The focal point of many tours is based around religious icons and sacred holy sites.

You do not to travel internationally to view these blessed venues. Right here in Ironton we have a wonderful assembly of multi denominational churches representing many different architectural styles.

If you have not participated in their Christmas season church walk then this is something you need to add to your must do list.

I have not participated in any church tours in the surrounding river cities so I cannot comment on them but I’m sure they would offer another wonderful experience.

I have been down river and toured a few of the historic churches in Covington Ky.

It’s worth the trip especially when they are decorated for the holiday seasons.

One favorite is the Covington Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, located at 12th Street and Madison Ave., Covington. It is one of only 35 minor basilicas located in the United States. Starting out as St. Mary’s Church opened in 1837 it was the first Roman Catholic Church built in Covington.

In 1895 the St. Mary’s Cathedral was nearly complete: the interior being modeled after the Abbey Church of St. Denis in Paris while the exterior would mirror Notre Dame de Paris.

Built in the 13th Century French-Gothic style, and constructed of Indiana limestone, the Cathedral’s interior shines with beautiful appointments.

Among them, 82 hand-poured stained glass windows crafted in Munich, including the 24-foot wide by 67-foot tall window in the north transept, one of the largest in the world.

Two rose windows (each being 26 ft. in diameter) grace the west and south clerestory and are modeled after those in Notre Dame Cathedral.

The Stations of the Cross, which line the peripheral walls, are made of Italian mosaic. Each mosaic contains at least 70,000 pieces and measures 3-feet wide by 6-feet tall.

The Blessed Sacrament Chapel contains a triptych portraying the history of salvation by area realist painter, Frank Duveneck.

The font of the baptistery is carved from one solid block of marble from Pietrosanto, Italy.

A baldochino (canopy) of carved Appalachian white oak soars over the apse area inset with hand-carved figurines of saints.

In 1953, St. Mary’s Cathedral was designated a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII, hence her present name ~ Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption (www.covcathedral.com).

Another local treasure is the Mother of God church (mother-of-god.org) which was founded in 1841 when approximately 30 German Catholic families recruited Fr. Ferdinand Kuhr to come to Covington. The new church of the Annunciation of the Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God became the second Catholic parish in the city.

The present church building was constructed in 1870-1871 in the Italian Renaissance basilica design.

Tour stop number 3 is at the Trinity Episcopal Church which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 01, 1982.

It acquired this status because it is an excellent example of how medieval techniques in architectural design affected Episcopal church building in the United States in the 19th Century, in a style known as Gothic Revival

There’s plenty more to see and do on both sides of the river but I’ll stop my tour after these three stops to enjoy some riverfront dining then head back up river to the best location in the nation.

For northern Kentucky information visit www.nkycvb.com or call 877.6598474

Happy holidays!