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Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

80 South Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113
408-283-8100
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Ranked #2 of 65 attractions in San Jose
Type: Churches/ Cathedrals
Traveler Description: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is located in downtown San Jose. The first church was built in 1803. Today the present church is the fifth... more »
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46 reviews from our community

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SF Bay Area
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
7 attraction reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed June 19, 2013 NEW

Don't let that domed building fool you. On the outside it looks pretty cool and all, but step inside and your smack dab in a European cathedral. Haven't been to Europe, well now you can experience a bit of it here, more than a bit a lot of it. The stained glass windows are resplendent. The wooden pews, the alter,... More

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See 11 more reviews by KatieSFBay for San Jose
Watsonville, California
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
10 attraction reviews
Reviews in 12 cities Reviews in 12 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed June 2, 2013

I've been fortunate to have traveled to 37 countries and six continents (soon to be all seven in February), so I was totally shocked to find this truly gorgeous church in downtown San Jose ... I mean, who would have thought???? It's totally "beautimus!" And I understand The Choral Project (a wonderful San Jose-based choral ensemble) is presenting Canadian Brass... More

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Vancouver
Top Contributor
86 reviews 86 reviews
37 attraction reviews
Reviews in 50 cities Reviews in 50 cities
45 helpful votes 45 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 10, 2013

The outside of this church was gorgeous , but walking inside , it was spectacular . It is quite small , but has so much to enjoy . We were lucky enough to visit just before the Spanish mass began . The band was setting up and sounded great . Vendors were selling their traditional snacks on the street .... More

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San Jose, CA
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
15 attraction reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 10, 2013

This church is just beautiful! Its circular design is unique for a Catholic church. It was also the first non-mission parish built in California so it has some unique history.

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See 3 more reviews by Crackens for San Jose
Arlington, Virginia
Contributor
17 reviews 17 reviews
13 attraction reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed March 28, 2013

For those appreciating beautiful churches, this Cathedral Basilica is recommended. Several unique features and great craftsmanship make it a pretty and peaceful setting.

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See 3 more reviews by MARK1215926 for San Jose
Glendora, California
Senior Contributor
37 reviews 37 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 24, 2013

This beautiful Basilica is a must visit even if you are not Roman Catholic. The art inside the church is magnificent and any art lover will enjoy it. You can walk in and there is usually people walking around. I have visited this cathedral twice, once was 2 years ago and then again this past March. This time when I... More

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See 3 more reviews by onedeesse for San Jose
Palm Harbor, Florida
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
10 attraction reviews
Reviews in 23 cities Reviews in 23 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 19, 2013

If I remember correctly, this was originally built in 1777. Obviously remodeled and kept in fabulous condition. It's absolutely beautiful. I happened to visit duing a mass celebrating wedding anniversaries so the place was packed. Nice little gift shop next door. The public parking nearby is $10 if you park longer than 15 minutes.

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See 3 more reviews by magwiech for San Jose
Milpitas, California, United States
2 reviews
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 25, 2013

It was amazing and so spiritual. I loved the architecture and the clergy so peaceful and loving . I will never forget the time I spent there with my family

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San Diego, CA
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
88 helpful votes 88 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 8, 2013

Went to sunday and daily mass. Loved the church space! This church is totally impressive. Felt like I was sitting inside St Peter's.

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Saratoga, California
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 1, 2013

Surprised at such a beautiful cathedral right in our own city. Europe has competition! Parking was not a problem despite being right in the downtown area. There are other points of interest that can be walked to from the Cathedral.

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