The
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, head church of the
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is located at 18th Street & the
Benjamin Franklin Parkway on the east side of
Logan Square in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the largest Catholic church in
Pennsylvania and listed on the U.S.
National Register of Historic Places as
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. In 1979, the Cathedral was visited by
Pope John Paul II, where he went on to celebrate
Mass.
Architecture
With its majestic façade, vaulted dome, ornate main altar, eight side chapels and main
sanctuary that comfortably holds 2,000 worshippers, the Cathedral-Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is the largest brownstone structure and one of the most architecturally eminent structures in the city of
Philadelphia. Erected in 1864, the cathedral, presented in a
Roman-
Corinthian style of
architecture, is modeled after the
Lombard Church of St. Charles in
Rome. Its Palladian façade and aqua oxidized-copper dome are in the
Italian Renaissance manner, and the interior is spacious with an oversize
apse of stained glass and red antique marble in magnificent proportions reminiscent of Roman churches. It was largely decorated by
Constantino Brumidi, who also painted the dome of the
Capitol in Washington. A Baldichino over the main altar and the three altars on each of the side aisles point up this
Italian Renaissance flavor. Also in the bowels of the building, is the compact 'Crypt of the...
Read More