Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral

The oldest Christian cathedral in New York, its construction having begun as early as 1809. It is also the oldest church in the United States dedicated to an Irish saint - St. Patrick.

You mustn't miss it if you are a fan of the Godfather movie series, as this is where the famous baptism scene from the first movie was shot. The cathedral seems to be a favourite spot for gangster movies overall, as it also features in the movies Godfather Part III and Mean Streets.

Inconspicuous on the outside, but with a magnificently decorated interior, this cathedral was originally designed by Joseph Mangin. However, nearly entirety of it was burnt down in the 1860s, and its design as we see it today was created by Henry Engelbert. The cathedral has been serving as a seat of bishops (one of whom is even buried at its premises) and later even archbishops of New York diocese (later episcopacy), and it still remains the centre of Catholic worship in New York nowadays.

In 2010 it was declared a basilica by Pope Benedict XVI. It is the only church in the entire New York with this status.