Top Rated Attractions in New York

Built in 1925, St. Lucy's Church was established to serve the city's Italian diaspora. The brick and stone building was constructed in the Romanesque style of architecture, but the real treasures can be found in the church interiors. Studded with awe-inspiring murals, frescoes and sculptural work, the church interiors are a spectacular affair and warrant a visit. Built in 1925, this historic church found its place in the prestigious National Register of Historic Places in the year 1998. St. Lucy's Church is the National Shrine of St. Gerard.

New York's Grand Central Terminal, often inaccurately referred to as the Grand Central Station, is one of Midtown Manhattan's most resplendent architectural jewels and one of the busiest terminals in the world. Completed in 1913, the majestic Beaux-Arts beauty is richly embellished, its interiors a love affair with marble, while the ornamented facade is topped by The Glory of Commerce - a riveting sculpture that depicts Mercury, Hercules and Minerva overlooking the city from a lofty perch, the world's largest Tiffany-stained glass clock at their feet. Painted constellations arch above the iconic main hall, featured in any number of movies, its vaulted ceilings an awe-inspiring sight. Today, the building also houses chic shops and a dining concourse, alongside platforms that cater to commuter, intercity and rapid transport trains, attracting commuters and tourists in equal measure.

Resting behind an opulent French-Gothic Revival visage, the cathedral is rightly situated in the heart of the city. Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart was constructed over the course of nearly a century, specifically built to feature views of the mountains to the west and downtown Manhattan to the east. First proposed in 1859, the cathedral's cornerstone was finally set forty years later. It wasn't until 1954 that the church was completed and consecrated. Pope John Paul II visited this gargantuan cathedral in 1995, performing an evening prayer that earned the cathedral the rank of basilica. Rightly dubbed as the Monument of Faith, this elegant basilica is adorned with sharp arches and glorious chandeliers giving way to the stunning altar. The Cathedral Basilica regularly holds concerts that are open to the public, played on the largest pipe organ ever created by the Schantz Organ Company. Commanding Newark's beautiful landscape, the basilica is one of the most treasured edifices of the city.

The magnanimous Clement Clark Moore, the man who gave the moniker of Chelsea to the neighborhood, established this church in 1831. The original chapel features a Greek-revival design, however a few years later, a larger church was constructed right next to the smaller chapel (which is now the rectory) in the Gothic Revival style. The Episcopalian denomination also attends events at the the massive General Theological Seminary right down the street and the church hosts the Atlantic Theater Company in an adjacent building. Also of note, St. Peter's presents Music in Chelsea, a concert series with live music ranging from classical to folk. For more details, check the website or call ahead.

Columbus Circle, named after Christopher Columbus, is one of Big Apple's most famous landmarks. Built in 1905 and renovated in 2005, this is a traffic circle between Broadway, Central Park and Eighth Avenue. The importance of the landmark lies in the fact that the monument at the center is used to measure distances within New York city. The beautiful fountains, the marble statue and wooden benches surrounding the monument have also appeared in a number of Hollywood movies.

This memorial is dedicated to the devastating Great Irish Potato Famine of 1845 - 1852. The Famine resulted in nearly one million deaths in Ireland and forced countless others to emigrate to America, many of whom came to New York. The memorial is made of stones from all 32 counties of Ireland. It also uses native soil and vegetation straight from Ireland, as well as slabs of text separated by layers of Irish limestone from over 300 million years ago. The memorial also features an authentic 19th century Irish cottage.