Ruins of Mogadishu Cathedral

The Ruins of Mogadishu Cathedral, which was erected during Italian Somaliland's colonial period, has barely survived decades of civil strife. Architect Antonio Vandone created the cathedral in the Norman Gothic style. Two towers, each 37.50 meters tall, surrounded the facade on all sides. The structure was designed in the shape of a Latin cross, with three naves separated by pointed arches and piers. The "Consolata" missionaries were entrusted with the church, which was afterwards superseded by the Franciscans.

It was substantially damaged during conflict in the 1990s, and Islamists destroyed it heavily in 2008. Some of the iconic monuments in Somalia's stone walls and arches survive as a memorial to the ancient structure. The new Somali government has raised the potential of reconstructing the Cathedral as a gesture of religious unity.

The Ruins of Mogadishu Cathedral's walls were still intact, its exquisite stone arches were still in place, and the general impression was one of peace, despite the fact that its roof had been blown off, among other things. The Diocese announced intentions to reconstruct the cathedral in the near future in April 2013, following a visit to the site to evaluate its condition.

Location: Mogadishu, Somalia