The world's oldest churches - Around the world there are old churches which fascinate tourists for many different reasons, be it for their architecture, history or the mysteries found within. These places of worship have survived the passage of time due to their incredible architecture.

So take a look at some of the world's oldest churches!

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Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Croatia) - Established in the seventh century, the Cathedral of St. Domnius is considered to be the oldest in the world with its original structure still intact.

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Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Croatia) - This majestic building was initially built as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor Diocletian.

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Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Croatia) - The cathedral is very well preserved and open to tourists.

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Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Armenia) - The original church was built in the fourth century, between 301 and 303 by the patron saint of Armenia, Gregory the Illuminator, following King Tiridates III adopting Christianity as the state's official religion.

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Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Armenia) - Nowadays it is one of Armenia's oldest monuments and one of the most visited. In 2000 it was granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

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Church of St. Peter (Turkey) - This church is actually a cave, and was used by the first christians of Antioch around the third century.

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Church of St. Peter (Turkey) - Some people believe the founding of the church can be traced back to the apostles from the bible (11: 25-27).

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Church of St. Peter (Turkey) - Christian tradition considers Peter the apostle to be the founder of the church in Antioch. This site is very well preserved and can be visited by tourists.

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Church of Saint Simeon Stylites (Syria) - This church was built in the fifth century and is located 30km away from the city of Aleppo in Syria.

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Church of Saint Simeon Stylites (Syria) - It is the oldest standing Byzantine church in the world and its current state is impressive. It is locally known as Qalat Seman or 'Simeon's Fortress.'

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St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican City) - This is the biggest and most important building in Catholicism and one of the most visited christian monuments in the world.

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St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican City) - The Basilica was built around 333 AD and renovated in the fifteenth century. It's impressive for its architecture, paintings, sculptures and statues which are well preserved and cared for.

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St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican City) - Situated in St. Peter's Square, some of history's greatest artists contributed to its decoration, including Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini.

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Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion (Ethiopia) - This orthodox church is the oldest in Ethiopia and is believed to have been built during the 4th century by the first christian ruler of Ethiopia, Ezana.

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Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion (Ethiopia) - Destroyed and rebuilt several times, a new church was build by the emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie in the 1950s.

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Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion (Ethiopia) - Nowadays it is open to visitors. The building is a symbol of the country and is an iconic religious structure.

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Church of the Nativity (Palestine) - One of the oldest active churches in the world. The structure is built over a cave where christians believe Jesus was born.

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Church of the Nativity (Palestine) - It is considered a holy place by religious people and receives many visitors. Its construction dates to the year 326 AD, and was ordered by Helen, mother of the Roman emperor Constantine.

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Monastery of Saint Anthony (Egypt) - This orthodox church sits in the middle of the desert in Egypt, 334km southeast of Cairo.

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Monastery of Saint Anthony (Egypt) - It was built by the followers of Saint Anthony, the first christian monk, and holds a lot of influence over other christian institutions in the country.

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Monastery of Saint Anthony (Egypt) - It is extremely well preserved and welcomes tourists from all over the world. It is a beautiful and historic structure.

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Saint Catherine's Monastery (Egypt) - Saint Catherine's Monastery is located in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It's one of the oldest christian monasteries still in use.

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Saint Catherine's Monastery (Egypt) - It was built between 527 and 565 on the orders of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, in tribute to christian martyrs.

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Saint Catherine's Monastery (Egypt) - The building boasts incredible architecture. Its history and preservation earned it the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

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Hagia Sofia (Turkey) - This imposing building was constructed between 532 and 537 by the Byzantine Empire to be the cathedral of Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey.

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Hagia Sofia (Turkey) - It is as beautiful inside as it is outside.

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Hagia Sofia (Turkey) - It has served as an orthodox basilica, a mosque and is now a museum which welcomes tourists from around the world.

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Cathedral of Trier (Germany) - The current cathedral incorporates the remains of a fourth century church.

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Cathedral of Trier (Germany) - It's well preserved and notable for its ancient architecture.

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Cathedral of Trier (Germany) - It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and welcomes thousands of tourists every year.

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