St John's - Basilica of St John the Baptist

Also in Military Road, on the highest point of the ridge above the city (fine view over the Narrows), stands Newfoundland's architecturally most important building, the Basilica of St John the Baptist (1842-92). Built in the form of a Latin cross and graced by slender twin towers 42 m (138 ft) high, the Basilica is noted for some fine statues and its beautiful ornate gold leaf ceiling. The statue of Our Lady of Fatima in one of the transepts was a gift from Portuguese sailors who were fortunate enough to survive being shipwrecked on the Banks. The basilica is now a National Historic Site.