SAINT PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL

The seat of the Archdiocese of New York, St. Patrick's Cathedral appears to date back to the Middle Ages, but was actually built between 1858 and 1879. New York's first St. Patrick's Cathedral (the original seat of the archdiocese) was located in the Nolita district of lower Manhattan, at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Mott Street, but was completely destroyed by fire in 1866. It was rebuilt alongside the latter, becoming the oldest Catholic church in New York, and is now known as St. Patrick's Old Cathedral.

St. Patrick's Old Cathedral on Fifth Avenue may seem small among the skyscrapers that surround it, but it is the largest Gothic Catholic church in the United States. The interior is magnificent. The cathedral is illuminated by candles reflected in the 71 stained-glass windows and large rose window. Observe the details of the sculpted columns. The great organs boast no fewer than nine thousand pipes, making for a grand concert experience in these perfect acoustics. If you're here during the great Irish festival of St. Patrick's Day, make sure you stop by. It's one of the most visited buildings in New York (3 million visitors a year), and even though it's very busy, the cathedral gives an incredible sense of calm right in the heart of the hive of activity that is the Rockefeller Center area. It stands in stark contrast to the luxury boutiques and glass buildings that surround it, and catching a glimpse of it as you walk up Fifth Avenue feels like a real apparition! F. Scott Fitzgerald, the famous author of Gatsby the Magnificent, married his partner, Zelda, here in 1920. Unfortunately, if you too dream of getting married here, you must reside in the Archdiocese of New York. However, you're more than welcome to attend mass alongside the believers who frequent the church (who must be well-to-do, since they live in the neighborhood!). Masses are held every day of the week. On Sundays, there are no less than eight sermons between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (the choir is there for the 10:15 a.m. sermon). The 4pm mass is entirely in Spanish! Only the Christmas mass, which is quite incredible, is not easily accessible, as priority is naturally given to parish members.