Surrounded by undeniable beauty in the city we call home, some of us may not always appreciate the natural and man-made wonders that surround us. Take the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning, a towering masterpiece that defines the Oakland skyline. The exterior beauty is only, perhaps, rivaled by the spectacular beauty within the 42-story Gothic tower, which might just be the most beautiful place in Pittsburgh.
Distinctively beautiful with any backdrop - sun, rain, clouds, or snow - the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning is, perhaps, one of Pittsburgh's most recognizable buildings.
The Cathedral of Learning first debuted in 1926, built in part from donations from area schoolchildren.
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Cathedral Commons Room rises four stories – a spectacular 52 feet – and is made of iron, green slate from Vermont, and limestone from Indiana.
Arguably the centerpiece of the Cathedral of Learning are the Nationality Rooms, on the first and third floors, that bring the world to Pittsburgh.
The Nationality Rooms serve as classrooms during the academic school year. Visitors, however, can tour the rooms from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday during the fall and spring semesters.
During the summer, however, the Nationality Rooms - like the African Heritage Room pictured above - welcome visitors Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The 30 rooms that make up the Nationality Rooms include the Austrian Room pictured above...
...the Indian Room and...
...the Armenian Room.
During your visit to the Cathedral of Learning, stop at the 36th floor for amazing views of Oakland's sprawling landscape, which features Carnegie Mellon University, the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and...
...St. Paul's Cathedral, another Pittsburgh masterpiece.
Pittsburgh is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the country. The Cathedral of Learning just might be the most beautiful place in our city. You might also want to check out another beautiful spot in Pittsburgh by visiting this little known natural oasis.
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