Belfast Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Anne, took over a century to complete, passing through the hands of eight architects along the way. Work began on the nave in 1904, on the site of an older parish church that dated to 1773, and the building kept going so long that locals stopped expecting it to end. The Spire of Hope, added in 2007, finally put a full stop on proceedings, though some Belfastians observe drily that they still don't see the point.
Inside lies Edward Carson, the only person ever buried here. The unionist leader who many regard as the founding father of Northern Ireland was interred with soil from all six counties scattered on his coffin. Outside, Writers' Square honours the city's literary figures, including Thomas Carnduff, the Shipyard Poet.
VoiceMap's "The Heart of Belfast" tour traces the cathedral's long construction alongside the street history of Donegall Street, connecting Carson's tomb to the wider story of how Belfast became Northern Ireland.