Nob Hill, San Francisco

Sitting high on a hill in Nob Hill is the enormous Grace Cathedral, which is an Episcopal church. The church building project was undertaken after the 1906 earthquake (specifically in 1928) and not completed until the 1964. Outside, the neo-Gothic structure is somewhat conservative in design with the most interesting feature seen here. These are exact replicas of Ghiberti's famous "Gates of Paradise" from the Baptistery in Florence, Italy. There are also some Spanish architectural influences, a reminder of California's Spanish roots.

Ok, if you feel not enthusiast going up walking Nob hill , then think how people living or working everyday do and..cheer up, this is waht i thought thinking of going back to the flat flat Netherlands.

The aptly described 'hill of palaces', Nob Hill rises sharply from San Francisco's centre. Undevelopable before the 1870s because of its steepness, it was the invention of the cable car that finally allowed Nob Hill to be easily climbed. when it was, its commanding viw quickly drove up real estate prices, and the massive mansions that held court upon its hights gave th area the nickname 'Snob Hill'. Following the 1906 earthquake, however, many of the mansions were destroyed by the subsequent fire and the city elite moved on to the Pacific Heights area. Today, Nob Hill is a far more cosmopolitan hotel district. Some of the city's most expensive hotels, including the Fairmont and the Ritz, call this area home. Nob Hill's main attraction is Grace Cathedral, modelled after Notre Dame in Paris, which is frontd by elegant Huntington Park. Across the park is the exclusive Pacific Union Club, in one of the last remaining mansions. Of course, the area still rmains relatively affluent, and pompous French Empire architecture is now the area staple. Nob Hill can be reached rather easily via the California Street cable car line, otherwise there's a steep climb involved.

NOB HILL

Located between California, Powell, Broadway, and Leavenworth streets, Nob Hill has been the locus of San Francisco high society for over a century. 19th century mining, railroad, and banking barons like Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins, James Flood, and Leland Stanford built huge mansions on what was known as the “Hill of Palaces.” Unfortunately, almost all of these magnificent structures fell victim to the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. Only the old Flood mansion survives – today it is the Pacific Union Club.

Today Nob Hill is home to luxury apartments, condos, and hotels – such as the Fairmont Hotel (where Alfred Hitchcock filmed part of “Vertigo”), the Mark Hopkins (whose “Top of the Mark” is a great pace to have high tea of cocktails), and the Stanford Court (on the site of the mansion owned by Leland and Jane Stanford – whose money established Stanford University), as well as Grace Cathedral, a one-sixth replica of Notre Dame in Paris that took 53 years to build, and the Cable Car Museum on Mason and Washington streets.

This is trully amazing this cathedral has been built in the 20th century. Based on ND de Paris, this one is indeed made of concrete. However once you enter, you really have the feeling to be in one of these old multy-centenary european cathedrals.

Of The City's many hills, Nob Hill boasts perhaps the best view of San Francisco Bay, especially when observed from a California Street cable car, running from the foot of Market Street, over the hill and down to Van Ness Avenue. Nob Hill's noble tenants include Grace Cathedral, a replica of Notre Dame in Paris; Huntington Park, site of many arts shows and graced by a replica of a 16th century Roman fountain; Nob Hill Masonic Center, an architectural dazzler hosting various musical events; the Cable Car Museum; and grand hotels.

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spectacular views of the city that rivals my fave lounge in Mariott Marquis in SOMA

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