Cathedrals

Beautiful and imposing, cathedrals were designed as monuments to the greater glory of God. They are important not only for spiritual reasons, but for their often splendid architecture. A medievalist leads an extraordinary photographic tour through the most magnificent examples, from Notre Dame in Paris to the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Nairobi, Kenya. Through engaging commentary, the history and evolution of these buildings unfold, beginning in the early Christian era and Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in the 4th century, up through the Reformation, and right into the 20th century. Among the most spectacular: in the ruins of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland; Manila Cathedral in the Philippines, rebuilt five times; and St. Patrick's in New York City.