The Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart is one of the great surprises of Newark: a massive French Gothic Revival cathedral that would be famous if it were anywhere but New Jersey. The building seats 2,300 people under a nave that rises 108 feet, with extensive stone carving, stained glass from the Chartres tradition, and a recently restored interior that is in excellent condition.
The cathedral sits in a predominantly Portuguese-American neighbourhood north of downtown. Tours are available on Sunday afternoons after Mass, or by appointment — the interior merits proper examination rather than a quick look from the doorway. It is designated a National Historic Landmark and was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica in 1995.