New York is a truly unique city — famous not only for its spectacular skyline above ground, but also for its mysterious underground world: a one-of-a-kind subway system (hello, Ninja Turtles!), tunnels, caves, and… catacombs!
Unlike the subway, the catacombs are not filled with life — but your blood might start to race when you enter this mysterious, almost mystical place.
The Catacombs of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral
The catacombs are located beneath Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a Catholic church built in 1809 on what was then the outskirts of New York City. Now, more than 200 years later, the cathedral sits right in the heart of Manhattan — in the Chinatown / Little Italy area — and offers visitors a unique tour that reveals fascinating and little-known facts:
- Practicing Catholicism was once dangerous — and at times even illegal. Being a Catholic priest in New York was considered a criminal offense, punishable by death.
- Priests had to defend themselves from city gangs, and some churches were even burned down by raiders.
- The cathedral was used as a filming location for the baptism scene in The Godfather.
- St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral is home to the largest catacombs in the United States — a network of narrow tunnels lined with tombs built into the walls.
Each tomb can hold up to twelve burials, with varying levels of luxury. One of the most famous is the tomb of General Eckert, which features lavish decorations — and even an original Thomas Edison light bulb! At the time, few even among wealthy Americans had electricity in their homes.
In total, around one thousand people are laid to rest in these catacombs.
There remains one family vault still available, the last of its kind — and it can be yours for $8 million.
