VALENCIA CATHEDRAL (VENEZUELA): CHARACTERISTICS AND HISTORY - ART - 2024

The c atedral Valencia (Venezuela), also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Socorro, is a located catholic church right in front of the Plaza Bolivar in the capital of Carabobo state of Venezuela, which is called Valencia.

Valencia was founded in 1555 by Alonso Díaz Moreno (Spanish conqueror of Venezuela) and today it is the industrial capital of the country.

Valencia Cathedral, Venezuela

The Cathedral of Valencia was built in 1580 and preserves artistic pieces whose value is incalculable, such as four works by Antonio Herrera del Toro (a plastic artist born in Valencia, Venezuela) and the colonial image of the Virgen del Socorro, patron saint of Valencia. However, it was at the beginning of the 19th century that the construction of the cathedral was completed.

Currently, this cathedral represents a National Historic Monument and Artistic Heritage of the country that is visited every year by parishioners devoted to Nuestra Señora del Socorro.

Due to its location, as it is part of the national historical monuments of Venezuela and as it is the most important religious point in Valencia, this cathedral is one of the points that most attracts tourists.

History

The Basilica Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Socorro was a building that took about three centuries to be ready, since the construction was carried out in parts and with the support of those who wanted to collaborate financially.

Stages of the building

Construction began in 1580, twenty-five years after the founding of the city of Valencia, but it is in the middle of the second half of the 18th century that construction progresses considerably.

In 1781, despite the difficulties that arose at the time, construction continued to progress every day.

However, it was with the arrival of General Pablo Morillo (The Peacemaker) that the advance was more evident, since the engineers who accompanied him built the main facade and began the construction of the south tower.

For its part, at the beginning of the 19th century, the north tower with a height of 27 meters was already ready. In addition, construction of the chapel began in 1829 and construction continued in 1874 with the construction of the staircase that connects the two towers. Similarly, they built a crypt under the stairs.

In this crypt, rest the remains of Generals Ambrosio Plaza and Manuel Cedeño, independence soldiers who died in the Battle of Carabobo.

Since the land where the old cemetery was located was necessary, the remains that were there were transferred to the crypt of the cathedral and the construction of the Priest's house on said land was carried out.

Renowned people who supported and visited the building

The Basilica Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Socorro had the financial support of some well-known people in order to complete its construction.

Among those people are: Mrs. Bárbara Nieves (sentimentally linked to General Páez), who contributed 1,200 bolivars of the time, and Dr. Pedro León Lovera, who supported the construction by building the staircase.

On the other hand, among the renowned people who visited the cathedral, there are the Liberator Simón Bolívar, Dr. José María Vargas and General José Antonio Páez. All of them, important figures in the history and culture of Venezuela.

Evolution of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Help

At first, this building was not established as the Basilica Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Socorro. Instead, like all evolution, this cathedral gradually increased in popularity until it became what it is known today.

At the end of the construction, this building was established as the Parish Church. After the creation of the Diocese of Valencia, in 1921, it was considered the Cathedral Church.

Later, Pope John XXIII named it a Minor Basilica and in 1878, after the creation of the bishopric of Carabobo, it was named a cathedral.

Already established as a cathedral, a basilica and this being the house of the image of the Virgen del Socorro (crowned canonical in 1910), it was considered the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Socorro, as it is known today.

characteristics

Given that the construction of the Basilica Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Socorro took almost three centuries to complete and was restored and rebuilt by different people, it has a mixture of varied styles. However, its original style is colonial.

Its façade is characterized by having a colonial style, in which there are six columns that frame the three main entrances. In addition, two towers of which one is the base of a clock with four spheres that is located at the top of the south tower. Both towers are built with a dome at the end and a lamp at the top.

Internally it is divided in the shape of a cross. In this space there are three ships; one central and two lateral, and in two lateral chapels. The divisions of these spaces are marked with columns that support arches.

Likewise, the chapel of the souls and a space to provide the sacrament of baptism were built inside.

Religious art pieces

The Basilica Cathedral of Nuestra Señora del Socorro was named a National Historic and Artistic Monument of Venezuela for its immense value in works of art.

This cathedral has countless artistic pieces by multiple artists, among which are four pieces by Antonio Herrera del Toro and four pieces by Arturo Michelena.

In addition to the pieces by the artists mentioned above, the cathedral has an invaluable piece located on the altar that was made by an anonymous craftsman in France in 1950. Also, inside the cathedral there are many representations of different religious images.

References

1. Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Help (Valencia, Venezuela). (May 5, 2017). Retrieved on November 21, 2017, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
2. Attractions in Valencia, Venezuela. (sf). Retrieved on November 21, 2017, from Lonely Planet: lonelyplanet.com.
3. Valencia. (October 13, 2017). Retrieved on November 21, 2017, from Wikivoyage: en.wikivoyage.org.
4. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Valencia in Venezuela. (September 26, 2017). Retrieved on November 21, 2017, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
5. Valencia, Carabobo. (November 12, 2017). Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.
6. Our Lady of Perpetual Help. (November 2, 2017). Retrieved on November 22, 2017, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org.