Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and Central West End

Last week we had the pleasure of visiting the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. This was the first time I had ever been to the Basilica, so I was somewhat overwhelmed when we first stepped inside. It was absolutely beautiful, and I could not wait to start taking pictures. This first picture shows off some of the architecture that was present in St. Louis when the Basilica was first built. I really love the arch features and the long hallway. This was only one of several places within the Basilica that shows off the arch features. I think the Basilica is such an important part of St. Louis because of the rich history that it holds, including its architecture.

I spotted this window in one of the outer hallways in the Basilica, almost like it was hidden. It may not have been displayed front and center, but in my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful features inside of the Basilica. I really like how the window draws in so much natural light and uses it to light up the design. My favorite part is how much the deep blue color contrasts with the silver/white color.

This photo captures the centerpiece of the Basilica. I really enjoy everything about this picture, from the characters on the ceiling to the immaculate architectural structure surrounding Jesus to the steps leading up to the powerful display. This picture is important because it represents what the Basilica is all about. It is a spiritual center dedicated to the worship of God. To me, this centerpiece is like a welcoming invitation for friends and family to come inside and enjoy a morning or evening of worship. My favorite part about this photo is how the light is falling directly on Jesus. It helps to show that He is not only the main point of this picture, but also the main point of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

After spending some time inside of the Cathedral, we decided to walk around Central West End. I've mentioned in a previous post that I'm from Southern Illinois, so I haven't really explored most of St. Louis yet. I loved seeing all of the different types of architecture, including the homes. This picture shows one of the many different styles of housing that can be found in St. Louis. This style of housing reminds me of the show Full House that I used to watch when I was younger. The small space between each home in this photo resembles the close vicinity of the homes in Full House. It was really cool to walk by something so simple, like a row of houses, and be reminded of something from my childhood.


I enjoyed the time we spent walking around this area of St. Louis and seeing all of the shops, restaurants, and homes. I like this picture because it reminds me of the phrase, "The calm before the storm." This photo was taken in the later morning hours, so the restaurant was not open for business yet. However, I could see this patio filling with a large number of people during the evening hours for dinner. I love the idea of so many different people with different stories coming together to the same place. I plan to come back to Central West End sometime with family or friends to experience the area more and get a taste of St. Louis, maybe even at this restaurant.