These are not the damp, dark catacombs of “The Cask of Amontillado.” There is no sense of menace as you stroll the clean, brightly lit hallways of the Mausoleum at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Yet death is never far away, even in this welcoming, attractive space. When you see the crypts holding the faithful departed, and read the simple plaques stating the names of those who've fallen asleep, as the Bible gently puts it, it's almost impossible not to feel a slight chill. There are more than 1,200 crypts on-site, plus nearly 5,000 smaller “cremation niches.” Although the company is good — most of the bishops of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are buried here, along with Gregory Peck and wife Veronique — most of them are still empty, owing, surely, to the newness of the cathedral, which was dedicated in 2002. There is plenty of room for you. Talk about a sobering thought. —Sarah Fenske

555 W. Temple Street, dwntwn., 90012. (213) 680-5200, olacathedral.org.

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