Although buildings and architectural pieces can be considered art, many world-famous sites have used gold as a religious symbol in their construction. This has contributed to the valuation of gold in ancient and modern societies:

• Saint Peter’s Basilica, Vatican. One of the world’s most famous churches, the Basilica, is well-known for its extensive use of gold. Interior gold elements include golden mosaics, gilded sculptures, and ornate gold decorations. Outside, the dome is covered in gold leaf and tipped with the Palla, a large gold sphere representing the influence of Christ over the world.

• Grand Mosque of Mecca. Also known as the Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque is Islam’s holiest site, surrounding the Kaaba. Most of the mosque’s interiors extensively use gold sculptures and decorations. The mosque’s most well-known gold artifact is the Kiswah, a black cover draping the Kaaba made of black silk and frequently adorned with gold. In 2018, the Kiswah received over 100 kilograms of gold thread.

• Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto. The Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, is one of Kyoto’s largest Buddhist temples. Its centerpiece is the kinkaku (金閣), or Golden Pavilion. It is a three-story building, with the top two stories covered in gold leaf. The use of gold in Buddhist temples like Kinkaku-ji often symbolizes the Buddhist concepts of purity, enlightenment, and the radiance of the Buddha.