Cathedral Square

Overview
One of the oldest outlying neighborhoods of downtown San Angelo, this community has a distinctly Old World flavor and a well-deserved reputation for eerie goings-on.

Shadowed by the towering Gothic spires of St. Mary’s, the streets of Cathedral Square have an ominous air, especially at night, when tendrils of fog come stealing up from the river to veil the neighborhood in a silent shroud of mist.

Architecture and design students on field trips from various San Angelo universities are a frequent sight in Cathedral Square.

History
The uncanny nature of Cathedral Square by night has given rise to innumerable tales of supernatural happenings in the neighborhood.

Notable Places
A portion of the neighborhood has been dubbed Little Kiev to denote the Ukrainian, Russian and Eastern European origins of many residents. Bakeries, delis and restaurants catering to the tastes of these new arrivals attract diners from all over San Angelo.

The sprawling Cathedral of St. Mary, built in the early 20th century, lies at the heart of the neighborhood, fronting a cobblestone plaza inhabited by hundreds of pigeons and ringed by old fashioned cafes, bakeries and shops.

The Gothic architecture of the visually stunning cathedral carries over to some of the apartment homes, townhouses and storefronts in the community. Arches, flying buttresses and even a scattering of gargoyles adorn older buildings.

Enhancing the Old World feeling are the onion-shaped parapets of St. Basil’s Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church serving as a distinctive architectural and religious landmark in the neighborhood.

Notable People
The Bard, an arcane hero in medieval garb, served as a mystical protector of the community in the lates 1990s.

Appearances
San Angelo: City of Heroes (1998)