Between 50th and 51st streets, bone-white St Patrick's Cathedral sits among the glitz like a misplaced bit of moral imperative, and seems the result of a painstaking academic tour of the Gothic cathedrals of Europe: faultless in detail, lifeless in spirit. In the peaceful Lady Chapel at the back of the cathedral, however, the graceful, simple, altar captures the spirituality that its big sister lacks. Nevertheless, St Patrick's is an essential part of the midtown landscape, and perhaps the most important Catholic church in America. The Gothic details are perfect and the cathedral is certainly striking - and made all the more so by the backing of the sunglass-black Olympic Tower . Across the street, at 611 Fifth Ave, are the striped awnings of Saks Fifth Avenue , one of the last of New York's premier department stores.
Copyright Rough Guides Ltd as trustee for its authors. Published by Rough Guides. All rights reserved. The Rough Guides name is a trademark of Rough Guides Ltd.
Copyright © 2006 United States.biz
