The Cathedral of Caracas is located in the Plaza Bolívar of the capital of Venezuela, in the historic center of the city. The official name of this religious building is Catedral Metropolitana de Santa Ana.
In 1567, in the area that today is occupied by the Cathedral of Caracas, there was a church in honor of the Apostle Santiago. This building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1641.
Caracas Cathedral
At the end of the 17th century, the cathedral was rebuilt and since then it has undergone a series of aesthetic and structural changes. Currently, it consists of five naves, the central one being the highest.
History
The history of the Cathedral of Caracas began in 1567, when the Parochial Temple of the City of Santiago de León was founded, located where the cathedral is today.
In 1636, the parish temple was transformed into the Cathedral of Venezuela, a title formerly held by a church in Coro (Falcón state).
In 1641, the city of Caracas was hit by an earthquake and the cathedral collapsed. From the year 1665, the work of rebuilding the cathedral began, which was completed in the middle of the 18th century.
In 1766 and in 1812, two earthquakes occurred. The second was so strong that it almost completely destroyed the cathedral. By 1867, construction was finished.
Since then, the cathedral has been modified and restored several times. Despite the modifications, the original colonial facade was preserved.
characteristics
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Santa Ana is made up of five naves. The organization of these ships is as follows: in the center is the main ship (which is the largest) and on each side of this, there are two smaller ships.
The central nave and the lateral naves are separated by columns. On these columns, semicircular arches rest that make up the roof of the building.
The Cathedral of Santa Ana has a bell tower. This tower has four floors. On the facade of the tower, you can see a balcony on the third floor. In addition, on the third floor is the bell tower.
The tower also has a hand clock that sings various songs. One of these is the National Anthem of Venezuela.
Inside, the church has several chapels, among which the Chapel of Nuestra Señora del Pilar stands out. There are the remains of the archbishops of Caracas and La Trinidad.
This chapel also stands out because it is decorated with the painting of "The Last Supper" by Arturo Michelena. Although this work is unfinished, it is impressive for its beauty.
Other chapels within the church are the Chapel of Santa Ana, the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Pópulo, the Chapel of Santiago Apóstol, the Chapel of the Holy Sepulcher and the Chapel of the Holy Trinity.
The latter is recognized because the remains of Simón Bolívar's parents and wife rest inside.
References
- Caracas Cathedral. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from justvenezuela.org
- Caracas Cathedral. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from triposo.com
- Caracas Cathedral. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from wikipedia.org
- Caracas Cathedral, Caracas. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from gpsmycity.com
- Caracas Cathedral, Caracas. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from ve.igotoworld.com
- Cathedral in Caracas, Venezuela. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from lonelyplanet.com
- Caracas Metropolitan Cathedral in Caracas, Venezuela. Retrieved on November 27, 2017, from travel.sygic.com