Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:1723 Race St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tel:
(215) 561-1313
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is a gigantic building that can comfortably seat over 2,000 worshipers, and in addition to being the largest Catholic Church in Pennsylvania, is also the largest brownstone structure in Philadelphia. Built in 1864, and designed by John Notman and Napoleon Eugene Henry Charles Le Brun, the cathedral presents a Roman-Corinthian style of architecture. The façade, built in the Palladian style, and topped with an aqua oxidized-copper dome, is a New World interpretation of the Italian Renaissance, and is a must-see for students of Roman architecture. The interior is done majestically with an enormous apse made of stained glass and red antique marble. Most of the internal decorations were designed by Constantino Brumidi, the painter who did the underside of the dome in the rotunda of the United States Capitol Building.
The Cathedral was conceived on June 29th, 1846, by the Bishop of Philadelphia, Kenrick, who made his intentions to build a massive cathedral clear in a pastoral letter on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul. Construction continued until being completed in 1864. Local legend has it that the high windows on the cathedral were a direct result of the Philadelphia Nativist Riots of 1862, and the bishop instructed the construction workers to throw stones as high as they could, and to only start building the windows at that height, to prevent future window smashings.
The Cathedral is located on the east side of Logan Square, on the corner of Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 18th street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Enjoy this spiritual and architectural journey!