Basilica Beauty

While we were in Cincinnati, we thought one of the coolest things we could see would be St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption.

(How funny that the only Catholic with us is helping us all to sneak in over the wall!)

Just joking. Kathy was just helping all the boys do important boy stuff, like climb brick walls.

Visible in these pictures is the large stained-glass window, one of the largest in the world.

  

The outside was designed after Notre Dame of Paris, and boasts an impressive 26 different gargoyles, used as rain spouts (bring binoculars!).

The church is beautiful! Stained-glass, wood, tile, marble...

We arrived during Lent, so all marble statues and the crucifixion cross were covered in purple.

One interesting fact that drew us to visit is that there are four Basilicas in the world, all in Rome, and 30 or so minor Basilicas, of which this is one.

In 1953, Pope Pius XII  honored the cathedral with this title on account of its unusual beauty.

This red and yellow canopeum (resembles an umbrella) used in papal processions, is presented as an emblem signifying this cathedral's status.

The Basilica is breathtaking...a must see!