No matter your religion (or lack thereof), there’s something truly mesmerizing about a church. In San Francisco, most of these places of worship didn’t survive the 1906 earthquake and fires, so many don’t have a whole lot of history to them. Still, the city boasts some truly incredible churches: one in which Martin Luther King., Jr. gave a sermon, another that saw Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio on their wedding day, and another that inspired a Van Morrison album title. Check out these 7 incredible churches in San Francisco:
- Grace Cathedral
Meg Lauber/Flickr With stained-glass windows, grand archways, and a spectacular organ, this gorgeous Gothic-style church atop Nob Hill is simply stunning. It’s the third largest Episcopal Cathedral in the U.S.
Justin Kern/Flickr Grace Cathedral has seen several prominent figures (Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a sermon here in 1964) grace its halls. The indoor and outdoor labyrinths are worth a walk around, no matter your faith.
Eddie H./Yelp And if yoga is your sole religion, you’ll even want to head here every Tuesday evening for a donation-based class, which accommodates hundreds of yogis weekly.
- Saints Peter and Paul Church
Steve McClanahan/Flickr Some like to call this towering beauty in North Beach’s Washington Square the “Italian Cathedral of the West.” Perhaps you recognize this church from the Clint Eastwood film Dirty Harry or maybe even Sister Act 2?
Scott Hess/Flickr The original church was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fires, but the current church has been standing since 1924 with its twin spires rising a 191 feet over the city.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr Even Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio fell in love with his church: In 1954, they took wedding photographs on the steps of Saints Peter and Paul.
- Holy Virgin Cathedral
Gnawme/Flickr This Russian Orthodox cathedral adds a golden sparkle to the Richmond District, where its stood since 1965. It’s the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral outside of Russia.
rocor/Flickr The five onion domes are covered in 24-carat gold leaf.
David Yu/Flickr The church is even more bright and opulent inside, with colorful and intricate mosaics and gilded, ornate paintings.
- Mission Dolores
mgstanton/Flickr Founded in 1776, back when the area was settled by the Spanish, the Mission is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco.
Jennifer O./Yelp The large basilica beside it was completed in 1918, after the original Gothic church was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.
Daniel Parks/Flickr In 1952, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the honor of a Minor Basilica, which made it the first church designated a basilica west of the Mississippi River.
- St. Patrick Church
Sonny Abesamis/Flickr This Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1851 and is now in the center of all the downtown action, on Mission Street, across from Yerba Buena Gardens.
David Yu/Flickr The church has opened its arms to every community, first Irish immigrants, then the Spanish-speaking. Now, they even offer a Tagalog mass.
- Saint Ignatius Church
Allie_Caulfield This is one of the city’s largest churches. Sitting atop a hill on the campus of the University of San Francisco, it can be seen from several different angles throughout the city.
Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. The church reflects those of ancient Roman basilicas, with a mix of Italian Renaissance and Baroque styles. A small part of the church has even been converted into an art gallery.
- St. Dominic’s Catholic Church
Meg Lauber/Flickr This Gothic-style Romanic Catholic church sits on the edge of Western Addition and Pacific Heights. It was opened in 1928.
conlymarie/Flickr The true beauty is inside with its large stained-glass windows, stone statues, Italian-made marble altars, and an exquisite century-plus-old pipe organ. And fun fact: Van Morrison’s 1972 album, Saint Dominic’s Preview was named after this very church.
For more exquisite architecture, history, and beauty check out these 18 incredible places to visit in San Francisco.
Meg Lauber/Flickr
With stained-glass windows, grand archways, and a spectacular organ, this gorgeous Gothic-style church atop Nob Hill is simply stunning. It’s the third largest Episcopal Cathedral in the U.S.
Justin Kern/Flickr
Grace Cathedral has seen several prominent figures (Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a sermon here in 1964) grace its halls. The indoor and outdoor labyrinths are worth a walk around, no matter your faith.
Eddie H./Yelp
And if yoga is your sole religion, you’ll even want to head here every Tuesday evening for a donation-based class, which accommodates hundreds of yogis weekly.
Steve McClanahan/Flickr
Some like to call this towering beauty in North Beach’s Washington Square the “Italian Cathedral of the West.” Perhaps you recognize this church from the Clint Eastwood film Dirty Harry or maybe even Sister Act 2?
Scott Hess/Flickr
The original church was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fires, but the current church has been standing since 1924 with its twin spires rising a 191 feet over the city.
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
Even Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio fell in love with his church: In 1954, they took wedding photographs on the steps of Saints Peter and Paul.
Gnawme/Flickr
This Russian Orthodox cathedral adds a golden sparkle to the Richmond District, where its stood since 1965. It’s the largest Russian Orthodox cathedral outside of Russia.
rocor/Flickr
The five onion domes are covered in 24-carat gold leaf.
David Yu/Flickr
The church is even more bright and opulent inside, with colorful and intricate mosaics and gilded, ornate paintings.
mgstanton/Flickr
Founded in 1776, back when the area was settled by the Spanish, the Mission is the oldest surviving structure in San Francisco.
Jennifer O./Yelp
The large basilica beside it was completed in 1918, after the original Gothic church was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.
Daniel Parks/Flickr
In 1952, Pope Pius XII raised the church to the honor of a Minor Basilica, which made it the first church designated a basilica west of the Mississippi River.
Sonny Abesamis/Flickr
This Roman Catholic Church was founded in 1851 and is now in the center of all the downtown action, on Mission Street, across from Yerba Buena Gardens.
The church has opened its arms to every community, first Irish immigrants, then the Spanish-speaking. Now, they even offer a Tagalog mass.
Allie_Caulfield
This is one of the city’s largest churches. Sitting atop a hill on the campus of the University of San Francisco, it can be seen from several different angles throughout the city.
Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.
The church reflects those of ancient Roman basilicas, with a mix of Italian Renaissance and Baroque styles. A small part of the church has even been converted into an art gallery.
This Gothic-style Romanic Catholic church sits on the edge of Western Addition and Pacific Heights. It was opened in 1928.
conlymarie/Flickr
The true beauty is inside with its large stained-glass windows, stone statues, Italian-made marble altars, and an exquisite century-plus-old pipe organ. And fun fact: Van Morrison’s 1972 album, Saint Dominic’s Preview was named after this very church.
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