![]() It’s an eye-opener because people get so excited about the rediscovery of pieces of history down here.” “Most New Yorkers don’t even know (the catacombs) exist. “I never foresaw that a church could be a potential business partner like this,” Mr Wilkinson said. Mr Wilkinson, 47, himself a lifelong Staten Islander and church parishioner, tells little-known stories of the Old Cathedral, which - well before the "new" St Patrick's Cathedral was built uptown - was the centre of Catholic New York. ![]() But now visitors can take one of three daily tours with Tommy’s New York, Mr Wilkinson’s company and the Old Cathedral’s exclusive tour partner. Until June, the catacombs of the Old Cathedral - the city's only catacombs, or subterranean cemetery with recesses for tombs - were not open to the public. A hush overcomes the group, and Mr Wilkinson opens the doors.Ī GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST: Tourists slowly file into the dim space, some holding up their electric tea lights to read the inscriptions on the vaults. PICTURE: Samantha Maldonado/RNS Mr Wilkinson distributes electric tea lights before the wooden double doors that lead to the most anticipated part of the tour. Then the group exits a side door at the front of the church and descends narrow stairs to the lower level. Mr Wilkinson explains that the baptism scene in The Godfather was filmed here Sofia Coppola was the baby. Beneath the arching, cast-iron beams, and in front of the altar, he crosses himself and turns to the photo-snapping group he is leading on his Catacombs by Candlelight tour. Thomas Wilkinson removes his hat before entering the Basilica of St Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Lower Manhattan.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |