Loretto Chapel

Lonely Planet review

The small Gothic Loretto Chapel , modeled after Sainte Chapelle in Paris, was also commissioned by Archbishop Lamy. But when architect Projectus Mouly (hired after his father, the original architect, went blind) began 'courting' the archbishop's niece-in-law, well, the chapel was left without an architect. And a staircase. And so the Sisters of Loretto prayed to St Joseph, patron of carpenters, for divine intercession, or at least something to replace the darned ladder. Sure enough, a mysterious man with a burro, T-square and hammer appeared, asking for two tubs of water and perfect solitude. The sisters complied, and using neither nails nor any obvious support structure, the white-haired stranger completed the famously graceful spiral staircase. Then he disappeared. Of course. Today St Joseph's Miraculous Staircase is popular among tourists and wedding photographers, but regular services are no longer held here. The adjacent gift shop is packed with Catholic kitsch.