St patrick’s cathedral NYC: is it worth a visit?

st patrick’s cathedral in New York

St patrick’s cathedral in New York

August 14, 2024 New York Info Comments Off

St Patrick’s Cathedral NYC on Fifth Avenue is one of the most popular sights in New York City. This beautiful cathedral dates from the 19th century and has a rich history and remarkable architecture. The cathedral is really a must see when you are in New York.

St patrick’s Cathedral NYC

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, known as “America’s Parish Church”, is the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States. The church is 110 meters long and 58 meters wide. The ship is 36 meters high and 16 meters wide. The two pointed towers are over 100.5 meters high and the front has three bronze doors.

When was St. Patrick's Cathedral built?

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC was designed by architect James Renwick. And the design is inspired by, among others, the Cologne Cathedral and the Amiens Cathedral. On August 15, 1858, the foundation stone of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was laid and the cathedral was completed more than 20 years later in 1878. The two towers at the front of the building were completed in 1888 and were for a short time the tallest structures in the city.

st patrick’s cathedral NYC
Fifth Avenue New York st patrick’s cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral NYC inside

The cathedral is not only a beautiful building from the outside, but it is also equally impressive inside thanks to its 21 altars, 3,700 stained glass windows, organs, 19 bells, each named after a different saint and imposing bronze doors of 9,000 pound.

Why is St. Patrick's Cathedral so famous?

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is perhaps one of the most famous cathedrals in America. It is known for its gigantic bronze doors, beautiful high altar and rich neo-Gothic architecture, including thousands of stained glass windows. From a historical perspective, it is the final resting place of some of New York’s most legendary humanitarians and clergy.

st patrick’s cathedral-inside-roof

How many people come to St. Patrick's Cathedral every year?

Every year, more than five and a half million people come to St. Patrick’s for worship, spiritual solace, or simply to marvel at its remarkable beauty.

Is St. Patrick's Cathedral open to the public?

Yes, St. Patrick’s Cathedral NYC is open to the public seven days a week from early morning to late evening. You are also allowed to take photos indoors, as long as you do not use a flash. It is a house of worship, so please be considerate of those who pray.

St. Bartholomew's Church in New York

A few minutes’ walk from St. Patricks’ Cathedral is another beautiful church, St. Bartholomew’s Church, commonly known as St. Bart’s. This beautiful church was also designed by James Renwick and built 1916-1917. You can also visit this church and view it from the inside.

St. Bartholomew's Church in New York
St. Bartholomew's Church

Saks fifth Avenue

If you are going to visit St Patrick’s Cathedral, you can combine this visit with a visit to Saks Fifth Avenue. This luxury department store is located right next to St Patrick’s and is one of the leading specialty stores in the world, with authentic and high-quality luxury items such as handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts.

The LEGO Store Fifth Avenue

Across the street from St Patrick’s at 636 5th Avenue you will find perhaps the most beautiful Lego store in New York. In this store you will find everything related to Lego and a number of beautiful Lego buildings such as a yellow New York taxi, various Marvel heroes, The Statue of Liberty and many other popular buildings. Even if you are not a fan of Lego, a visit to this store is a must.

Rockefeller Center on Fifth Avenue

Right across from St Patrick’s on Fifth Avenue, you will find Rockefeller Center. This enormous and beautiful shopping complex of over 89,000 m2 is a real paradise for people who love shopping. In addition, it contains attractions such as Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, the Comcast Building, and in winter an ice skating rink and the famous Christmas tree. More information about Rockefeller Center can be found via the link below.

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