Courtesy St. Louis CVC
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis
[ St. Louis ]
On the outside, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis has a Romanesque appearance. But on the inside, this early-20th-century church houses an immense collection of Byzantine-style mosaic artwork.
“We have one of the world’s largest collections of mosaics under one roof,” said Pat Donnelly of Friends of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. “It’s 83,000 square feet, with 7,000 different shades of color.
“The mosaic in the vestibule depicts the life of St. Louis, king of France. The dome at the entrance of the church shows the history of the Catholic Church in the St. Louis area. The main dome depicts Old Testament and New Testament church history, and the dome over the altar shows all of the apostles.”
In addition to the main sanctuary, the cathedral has four smaller chapels. Two of the chapels are decorated with Italian mosaics, one depicting the life of Mary and the other showing various saints from the church’s history. The other chapels contain black and white marble and showcase scenes from the life of a priest.
Groups can arrange to have guided tours of the cathedral.
“We explain the entire process of making mosaics,” Donnelly said. “We show them the interior of the church and give them some history of the St. Louis area.”
www.cathedralstl.org
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
[ Milwaukee ]
The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist has been the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee for more than 150 years. The church gives visitors a perspective on the ethnic communities that inhabited Milwaukee when construction began in the 1840s.
“The church has the really great history of Irish and German immigrants in Milwaukee,” said Wendy Dobrzynski, group tour manager for Visit Milwaukee. “The bell tower is one of the standout pieces of architecture in the city. At one point, it was the city’s official timekeeper.”
The interior of the cathedral features a number of sculptures, including one that depicts Jesus hanging on the cross. Mosaics and paintings throughout the building represent both biblical stories and modern men who have served as bishops in the cathedral.
Tours of the cathedral highlight some of the most interesting historic and architectural flourishes. Tour guides also take visitors to see the crypts in the basement, where some of the church’s bishops were laid to rest.
Just outside the church’s walls, Cathedral Square has become a community gathering place, with special events during the holidays and concerts throughout the summer. Groups can visit the cathedral and other notable churches around town on special tours offered by local tour operators.
