Saint Patrick’s Cathedral: New York’s stone giant
Whether you're Catholic or not, push open the heavy doors of Saint Patrick's Cathedral. A building that matches the scale of New York's skyscrapers!
Book Visit of Saint-Patrick Cathedral with audioguide
What to Know About Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
- Saint Patrick’s Cathedral sits on Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets, directly across from Rockefeller Center, in the heart of Midtown.
- This Roman Catholic cathedral was built between 1858 and 1878 and consecrated in 1879. Today, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is New York’s principal Catholic church.
- Its two spires, each 100 m (328 ft) tall, were added in 1888 and were the city’s tallest structures at the time. Today, the cathedral is dwarfed by the surrounding skyscrapers.
- The cathedral stretches 120 m (394 ft) long and was built from Tuckahoe marble, quarried from a village near New York. Another notable detail: it contains 19 bells.
- The cathedral underwent a complete restoration that finished in September 2015, just one week before Pope Francis visited.
What to See Inside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
- Inside, you’ll be struck by the soaring space, the richness of the Neo-Gothic style, and the stunning stained glass windows, some created by artisans from Chartres.
- In the transept, look for the Pietà, a sculpture of the Virgin Mary cradling the body of her crucified son. Created by William Ordway Partridge, this work is three times larger than Michelangelo’s Pietà in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome.
- Before you leave, look up at the main entrance to see the magnificent rose window and the organ. The light is especially beautiful in the afternoon.
- Behind the cathedral, you’ll find a bust of Pope John Paul II, commemorating his visit to New York in 1979.
Visiting Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
- Address: Fifth Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets.
- Subway: 47-50 Streets-Rockefeller Center
- Hours: Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is open daily from 6:30 am to 8:45 pm.
- Mass times: Saturday at 5:30 pm. Sunday at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10:15 am (with choir), noon, 1 pm, 4 pm (in Spanish), and 5:30 pm. Weekday masses at 7 am, 7:30 am, 8 am, noon, 12:30 pm, 1 pm, and 5:30 pm.
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Photos
