Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception- Mulivai, Apia

Looming over the harbour, this lofty cathedral is breathtakingly beautiful.

The cathedral dates back to 1857 and is the main church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Apia, the capital of Samoa. It suffered damage in the 2009 earthquake and has undergone restoration and extension. The new Cathedral of Apia opened to the public on 2 June 2014.

While the overall structure and interior aspects - Roman-style columns, stained glass windows, and marble floors- recognisably reference traditional European churches, many details are beautifully Samoan.

The entire ceiling is carved with patterns of pe’a (Samoan tattoo) and a wonderful Samoan version of the Last Supper is painted on the interior sides of the main dome.