Friday, February 17, 2006

Seven Wonders Finalist No.13: St. Louis Cathedral Basilica

St. Louis Cathedral Basilica is the official name of the Catholic church on the northwestern corner of Lindell Boulevard and Newstead Avenue in the Central West End, but it is known to most as the New Cathedral.

Built in the early 1900s, it replaced the Old Cathedral on the St. Louis riverfront as the seat of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In 1997, the church was elevated to basilica status.

Its design - including a conspicuous, green-tiled main dome - combines architecture of the Romanesque style on the exterior with a Byzantine style inside.

. . .the cathedral is best known for its mosaic work, which was begun in 1912 and completed in 1988. It is the largest collection of mosaics in the world, covering more than 83,000 square feet with more than 41.5 million pieces. The work reflects the efforts of 20 artists.
The Cathedral is surely one of the most beautiful churches in the world. It is a "Must See" for anyone visiting the St. Louis area.

Full story here.

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