Visit the A-Ma Temple

One of Shinto’s holiest shrines, said to house the sacred sword of the imperial regalia, set in a 1,000-year-old camphor forest.

Buddhist temple where three million people come at New Year to ward off bad luck — and where the incense-smoke ritual is part of the visit.

Shrine to the god of learning where students pray before exams, reached along a lane of plum-blossom mochi shops.

Judaism’s holiest prayer site, the retaining wall of the Second Temple.

Colonnaded temple in the middle of Luxor, best at night when the pharaonic statues and obelisk are floodlit.

Nubian Aswan’s feluccas and islands, plus the Temple of Isis moved stone by stone to escape the rising Nile.

Sri Lanka's holiest Buddhist temple.

Macau's iconic baroque church facade.