A dome is a hemispheric construction that often serves as a ceiling or roof. Several distinct cultures have employed dome constructions constructed of diverse materials throughout history. Dome tombs were built in the ancient Near East as solid mound graves. Inuit in the Arctic built their igloos out of compacted snow blocks, usually in the shape of a dome.
With the advent of large-scale masonry hemispheres by the ancient Romans, domes became technically significant. The Sassanid Empire built the first large-scale domes in Persia, and they later resurfaced in Europe throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods, culminating in some of the world’s most iconic domes.
1: Saint Basil’s Cathedral
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Ivan the Terrible erected the spectacularly colorful St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow between 1534 and 1561 to celebrate the capture of the Tatar strongholds of Kazan and Astrakhan. The design of the cathedral has no equivalent in Russian architecture, and nothing like can be discovered in centuries of Byzantine history prior to its construction. Nine onion domes may be seen at Saint Basil’s Cathedral, a type of dome that has become the standard for church domes in Russia. Also, read Most Famous Mausoleums in the World.
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The Taj Mahal is an amazing white marble monument made by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in remembrance of his wife in1632 – 1653. The marble dome that above the tomb is the Taj Mahal’s most stunning feature. Its 35-meter (115-foot) height is nearly the same as the length of the base, and it is emphasized by the fact that it sits atop a cylindrical drum. The iconic dome’s top is adorned with a lotus motif.
3: Dome of the Rock
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The Dome of the Rock was one of the first and most well-known examples of Islamic architecture, having been finished in 691 AD. It stands on one of the world’s most contentious religious sites, the Temple Mount. Despite popular belief, the Dome of the Rock is not a mosque, but rather a shrine that preserves a precious rock beneath its lofty roof. The Dome, crowned with a magnificent golden dome visible from afar and covered with shimmering ceramics, mosaics, and Arabic calligraphy, is undoubtedly the most stunning building in the Old City.
4: St. Peter’s Basilica
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The St. Peter Basilica in Rome began construction in 1506 and was finished in 1615. The architects of St. Peter’s looked to the iconic domes of the Pantheon and Florence Duomo for inspiration on how to construct what was envisioned from the start as Christendom’s grandest dome. In 1547 Michelangelo redesigned this dome, taking into account everything that had happened previously. The dome of St. Peter is a height of 136.57 meters (448.1 feet). It is the world’s tallest dome. Also, read 10 Most Famous Towers in the World.
5: Lotfollah Mosque
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The Lotfollah Mosque (or Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque) in Isfahan, Iran, was built in the early 16th century and is considered one of the architectural masterpieces of Persian architecture. Unlike the Shah Mosque (see below), which was built for the general people, this mosque was built for the royal court. As a result, there are no minarets and the mosque is reduced in size. Because of its gorgeous flattened dome, the Lotfollah Mosque has been referred to as the Domed Mosque throughout history.
6: Hagia Sophia
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The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which dates from the sixth century, was originally Constantinople’s church, but after the Ottomans took the city in the 15th century, it became a mosque. The Hagia Sophia has been turned into a museum. The huge dome (31 meters or 102 ft in diameter), a feat of Roman engineering, covers what was for almost 1000 years the world’s biggest enclosed space.
7: Shah Mosque
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The Shah Mosque (also known as the Imam Mosque) in Isfahan, Iran, is considered one of the finest examples of Persian architecture. Its construction began in 1611, and the elegance of its seven-color mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions contribute to its splendor. The Safavid dynasty began a renaissance in Persian dome construction, with the dome of the Shah Mosque becoming the largest in Isfahan at 53 meters (74 ft). The colorful tiles that adorned the exterior of this and other Persian domes, as well as the inside, were a standout feature. Also, read 8 Most Beautiful Fjords of the World.
8: Santa Maria del Fiore
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The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence’s gorgeous cathedral and icon of the city, In 1296 the Gothic style was begun and finished in 1436. The basilica is one of Italy’s greatest churches, and the iconic dome was the world’s largest until the modern era. It is the largest brick dome ever built.
9: Great Stupa at Sanchi
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The Great Stupa at Sanchi is India’s oldest stone structure, having been built in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka the Great. It was built around a small brick dome that was purportedly placed over Buddha’s relics. A century later, stone slabs were used to nearly double the size of the stupa. Three superimposed parasols within a square railing crowned the dome, which was flattened near the top.
10: United States Capitol
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The United States Congress meets in the Capitol, which is located atop Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. On November 17, 1800, the first session of Congress was held at the Capitol, which was still under construction. The Capitol’s cast iron dome is the second to sit atop the structure. After the Capitol was extended in the 1850s to accommodate the expanding number of legislators from newly admitted states, the original dome was replaced. The addition more than quadrupled the Capitol’s length, but dwarfed the previous timber-framed dome.