The Basilica of St. John the Baptist is a handsome Catholic church in downtown Canton, elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1988. The Romanesque Revival facade features twin towers, a large rose window, and an entrance portico that gives the building a presence proportionate to its role as the mother church of the Stark County Catholic community.
The interior is considerably more lavish than the exterior suggests: painted vaulting, marble altars, and stained glass windows that fill the nave with coloured light. The church serves the oldest Catholic parish in the area and has been a landmark of downtown Canton for over a century. It is usually open during the day and worth stepping inside for a few minutes.