The Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is one of Charleston's most striking churches, a brownstone Gothic Revival building with a tall spire, stained glass, and the vertical confidence that gives the city its old nickname, the Holy City. It stands just west of the densest historic streets, close enough to fold into a South of Broad walk.
Inside, the cathedral is cooler and more restrained than Charleston's pastel street life outside. Look for the glass, vaulted ceiling, and carved details, then step back outside to see how the spire fits into the broader skyline of steeples, graveyards, and narrow residential streets.