The church was constructed using brownstone quarried from the Hummelstown area in Pennsylvania.
The dome is estimated to weigh approximately 600 tons and is supported by a system of iron trusses.
Saint Katharine Drexel, the second American-born saint, is interred within the basilica.
The interior contains a painting by Constantino Brumidi, the same artist who painted the frescoes in the U.S. Capitol building.
The basilica's pipe organ features over 4,000 pipes and is capable of producing a wide range of liturgical sounds.
The facade features a large pediment with sculptures depicting the patron saints, Peter and Paul.
The central altar is made of white Carrara marble imported from Italy.
During his 2015 visit to Philadelphia, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the cathedral.
The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is the largest Roman Catholic church in Pennsylvania and the mother church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Designed by Napoleon LeBrun and John Notman, the structure was built between 1846 and 1864 in the Italian Renaissance style. Its most prominent feature is a massive, copper-clad dome modeled after Rome's Santa Maria in Monte Santo. The interior features a grand nave and a massive pipe organ installed in the rear gallery. The building serves as the final resting place for many of Philadelphia's former bishops and archbishops in a crypt located beneath the altar. The sanctuary is noted for its high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows depicting various religious figures. It remains an active parish church and a site for major archdiocesan liturgies.
The center of the nave looking toward the main altar to capture the scale of the dome and the symmetry of the Corinthian columns.
Enter through the main front doors on Race Street for the most dramatic architectural reveal.
Check the official website for organ recital schedules to hear the instrument in use.
Visit the small side chapels to view detailed mosaic work not always visible from the main nave.
Do not attempt to enter the cathedral during private weddings or funerals, as these sections may be restricted to invited guests.
Modest dress is required; shoulders and knees should be covered. Refrain from speaking loudly or taking photographs during active religious services.
