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St Paul’s Cathedral, England -

Sir Christopher Wren's architectural masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral in central London is one of the most famous and most recognizable sights in the capital. Its dome has dominated the skyline for over 300 years.

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Dome of the Rock, Israel -

Located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, the landmark Dome of the Rock is both sacred to Jews and Muslims and remains an enduring symbol of the city.

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St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City -

St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is the largest church in the world. Its dome rises to a total height of 136 m (448 ft) from the floor of the basilica to the top of the external cross, and is the tallest dome in the world.

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Florence Cathedral, Italy -

The astonishing Duomo di Firenze was completed in 1436 and features a dome engineered by Italian architect and designer Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446), considered to be a founding father of Renaissance architecture.

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United States Capitol, USA -

The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. is surmounted by a huge dome that dates back to 1855, constructed during a period of expansion. It's crowned by the "Statue of Freedom," a colossal statue that was raised to the top of the dome in 1863. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Russia -

Moscow's Saint Basil’s Cathedral, built from 1555 to 1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible, is one of the most popular cultural symbols in the country. The onion domes belong to nine different chapels within the cathedral, and each dome is a symbol for the assault on the city of Kazan in 1552.

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Taj Mahal, India -

The famous 17th-century ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in the city of Agra is distinguished by a 35-m (114 ft-) marble dome the shape of which is emphasized by four smaller domed chattris (kiosks) placed at its corners.

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Hagia Sophia, Turkey -

Istanbul's Hagia Sophia was built in 537 CE as the patriarchal cathedral of the imperial capital of Constantinople. At the time the building boasted the world's largest interior space, and was among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome. In 2020, it re-opened as a mosque.

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Royal Albert Hall, England -

Opened by Queen Victoria in 1871, the Royal Albert Hall in London is one of the most prestigious entertainment venues in the world. The great glass and wrought-iron dome roofing the hall is 41 m (135 ft-) high.

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Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Iran -

Isfahan's Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque dates back to 1619 and is noted for its exquisite calligraphy and tiled decoration. The beautiful design of the mosque's single-shell dome hints at the architectural treasures hidden within. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Reichstag, Germany -

This historic Berlin edifice suffered severe damaged during the Second World War. In 1990, it underwent reconstruction directed by architect Norman Foster, which included the positioning of a large glass dome at the very top of the Reichstag, which affords a 360-degree view of the city.

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Green Dome, Saudi Arabia -

The green-colored dome seen at the Prophet's Mosque at Medina is built over the tomb of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and early Muslim caliphs Abu Bakr and Umar. The structure dates back to 1279 CE, when an unpainted wooden cupola was built over the tomb. It was first painted green in 1837, and hence became known as the Green Dome.

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Helsinki Cathedral, Finland -

A major landmark of the city, Helsinki's handsome 19th-century cathedral is distinguished by its familiar tall, green dome surrounded by four smaller domes.

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Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, United Arab Emirates -

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is embellished by no less than 82 gleaming white marble domes of varying size. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Les Invalides, France -

The Paris museums and monuments relating to the military history of France collectively known as Les Invalides are landmarked by the Dôme des Invalides, a large church and the tallest in Paris at a height of 107 m (351 ft).

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Hiroshima Peace Memorial, Japan -

Hiroshima's evocative memorial to those killed in the atomic bombing of the city on August 6, 1945 stands as the ruins of the Product Exhibition Hall, originally built in 1915. The building survived the blast, retaining its shape and distinctive dome. In fact, the site is often referred to as the Genbaku ("A-Bomb") Dome.

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Hungarian Parliament, Hungary -

The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest stands on the eastern bank of the Danube. Its impressive dome is built in the Gothic Revival style and, like the rest of the structure, features detailed handiwork. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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The Great Sanchi Stupa, India -

Located on a hilltop in Sanchi Town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Great Stupa dates back to the 3rd century BCE and is one of India's oldest stone buildings.

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Old College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland -

Though completed in 1827, the dome at Old College was added in 1887, to a design by Scottish architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. A gilded statue of Youth crowns the dome. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Gur-E Amir Mausoleum, Uzbekistan -

Gur-e- Amir in Samarkand is the mausoleum of Timur (also known as Tamerlane). Completed in 1404, the building features a dome bright blue in color decorated with deep rosettes and white spots. Heavy ribbed fluting gives an amazing expressiveness to the cupola.

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Belgrade Fair – Hall 1, Serbia -

Inaugurated in 1957 in what was then Yugoslavia, this was the world's largest dome between 1957 and 1965 and remains Europe's largest dome. It was built for the Belgrade Fair and still serves as exhibition space.

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Putra Mosque, Malaysia -

The pink-domed Putra Mosque in Putrajaya is a recent addition to the city. Completed in 1999, the mosque stands over a lake and can accommodate 15,000 worshippers at any one time.

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St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, USA -

Its ultra-modern roof, comprising 13 gold domes that symbolize the 12 apostles and Jesus Christ as the largest center dome, makes St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Chicago one of the city's quirkiest and best-known religious buildings. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Radcliffe Camera, England -

The Radcliffe Camera at Oxford University was completed in 1749 and built to house the Radcliffe Science Library. Its spectacular circular dome is the third-largest in Britain and one of the most distinctive landmarks in the city.

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West Baden Springs Hotel, USA -

One of America's most unusual accommodation properties, the West Baden Springs Hotel in West Baden Springs in Indiana is noted for the 61-m (200 ft-) dome covering its atrium—once the largest free-spanning dome in the country. Now a casino resort, the hotel is listed as a National Historic Landmark.

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Dresden Frauenkirche, Germany -

Left in ruins for 50 years after the end of the Second World War as a memorial to city residents killed in allied bombing raids, Dresden's church was rebuilt and reconsecrated in October 2005. Its dome is one of the largest in Europe. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC0 1.0)

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Gol Gumbaz, India -

Standing in the city of Bijapur in Karnataka is Gol Gumbaz. Dating back to 1656, it was built as a tomb for Mohammed Adil Shah. The dome is one of the largest domes constructed before the modern era.

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Eden Project, England -

This popular eco-attraction in Cornwall comprises a series of biomes set in inflated domes in which are gathered flora collected from many diverse climates and environments. The futuristic hexagonal and pentagonal domes are located near the town of St. Blazey.

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Mercedes-Benz Superdome, USA -

Opening as the Louisiana Superdome in 1975, this impressive domed sports and exhibition stadium located in New Orleans stands as the largest fixed domed structure in the world. It primarily serves as the home venue for the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

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Millennium Dome, England -

Opened to commemorate the beginning of the third millennium, London's Millennium Dome was later re-branded as the O2. It has since become one of the United Kingdom's premiere music and cultural venues.

Sources: (Russian and East European Studies) (The English Home) (National Historic Landmarks)

See also: The odd appeal of novelty architecture

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