For InSPIREd Sunday I decided to go to my archives to share some beautiful churches I’ve visited. When traveling I always keep an eye out for these grand old places of worship filled with history. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church originally served the immigrant Italian population that settled in San Francisco.
You can read some of the history of this church by clicking here. A ribbon of verse spans the facade from Dante’s “Paridiso” and translates,
“The Glory of Him who moves all things penetrates and glows throughout the universe.”
I copied the following information from Fodor’s,
“Camera-toting visitors focus their lenses on the Romanesque splendor of what’s often called the Italian Cathedral. Completed in 1924, the church has Disneyesque stone-white towers that are local landmarks. Mass reflects the neighborhood; it’s given in English, Italian, and Chinese. (This is one of the few churches in town where you can hear Mass in Italian.) Following their 1954 City Hall wedding, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had their wedding photos snapped here. On the first Sunday of October, a Mass followed by a parade to Fisherman’s Wharf celebrates the Blessing of the (Fishing) Fleet. Also in October is the Italian Heritage Parade in North Beach. The country’s oldest Italian celebration, it began in 1869.”
I certainly was one of those camera-toting visitors.
This stained glass window is a depiction of the wedding where Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into wine.
Be sure to visit more churches from around the world by clicking here to the InSPIREd Sunday link up hosted by Beth and Sally.
We’ve had a busy weekend filled with gatherings and projects. Hope your Sunday finishes well.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Wow and wow again and again. Impressive and so lovely. Thanks for sharing. Tom The Backroads Traveller
Sometime you will have to visit Houston as there are several beautiful old churches there.
Thanks for the beautiful photos, Ellen. The marble angel holding the bowl is so lovely! I like the inSPIREd pun!
Beautiful!
And I am so glad you toted your camera to this beautiful place and shared it with the rest of us.
this is my favorite this week. what a beauty. so much to love. love it all. ( :
the angel is so peaceful & heavenly.
Such amazing images! I have passed by this church before and never went in. I won’t make that same mistake. 🙂
Have a beautiful weekend!
Such a lovely church, both inside and out!
Very eligant looking church
That’s very impressive. I can’t help wonder how much places like that cost to build, and doubt whether many could afford to do it today! But wonderful to look at – amazing craftsmanship.
It is stunning!
A fine series presenting this beautiful church. I like the history presented too. It is very interesting to have mass in several languages.
Wonderful photos filled with lots of detail. These are stunning churches indeed. The angels are so pretty as are the stained glass windows. I’d be a “snapping tourist” too.