Surrounded by palm trees and intricate fountains, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a fascinating building with a sleek postmodern design. It contains some of the city’s most important artifacts and holy relics from the Roman Catholic Church.
Arrive in the spacious adjacent plaza and marvel at the sheer size of this enormous building. Admire the intriguing style of the structure, which was completed in 2002 and has deconstructive elements and right angles. Look for a large cross between panels of dark glass jutting out from the building between sloped slabs of the roof that give the church a modern slanted appearance.
Step inside the church and enjoy the serenity in the large nave, which provides cool shelter on hot afternoons. Notice the ornate décor and furnishings, with pretty stained-glass windows among the highlights.
Study the impressive organ that uses pieces from a 1929 incarnation. It has 6,019 pipes supported in a steel frame to prepare it for earthquakes. Attend an organ recital for free on Wednesday afternoons and appreciate the excellent acoustics.
Go into the mausoleum filled with thousands of crypts and columbarium niches for burials. You’ll find the tomb of Saint Vibiana that was transferred here along with stained-glass windows from the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana, which was damaged in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Learn about the saint, who was a 3rd-century Roman virgin martyr.
Note that the extraordinary building was designed by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo. Its postmodern and elaborate style gives an unusual and innovative appearance to the cathedral.
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels stands at the northern end of the Downtown Los Angeles zone. Arrive at Union Station and walk west for 15 minutes to get here. You can also ride a bus to a stop next to the cathedral.
Explore this area for adjacent gems such as the Center Theater Group, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Mark Taper Forum.
