Top 10 Interesting Facts about Catedral Metropolitana

Photo of Catedral Metropolitana – By The Cosmonaut – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Catedral Metropolitana

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires is the main Catholic church. It is situated in the San Nicolás neighborhood in the city’s heart, with a view of Plaza de Mayo.

This Metropolitana is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and the primatial church of Argentina. Since its modest beginnings in the 16th century, the Cathedral of Buenos Aires has undergone numerous reconstructions.

The present building is a mix of architectural styles. It has a harsh, 19th-century Neoclassical façade without towers and an 18th-century nave and dome. The interior still features several Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque decorations as well as priceless altarpieces and statues from the 18th century.

Now let’s look at the top 10 interesting facts about Catedral Metropolitana.

1. Founded In 1580 By Juan Garay

Juan de Garay founded the cathedral of Buenos Aires in 1580. Part of a block facing the main square (now known as Plaza de Mayo) was reserved for the major church of the town. The present Cathedral is still located here. At the time of its foundation, the town depended on the diocese of Asunción (in today’s Paraguay).

2. The First Main Church of Buenos Aires Was a Modest Building Made of Wood and Adobe

A new church was erected in 1605 by Governor Hernandarias. It was built to replace the city’s first main church, a small structure composed of wood and adobe.

This second building was also in danger of collapse by 1616 and had to be rebuilt again. This was done around 1618.

The cathedral was reconstructed once again after 1662 and re-opened in 1671. This was under bishop Cristóbal de la Mancha y Velazco and governor José Martínez de Salazar.

The cathedral now had three naves covered by a wooden roof and a tower. Early in the 1680s, this church’s tower and the roof collapsed. It was a result of the poor quality of the materials used in construction.

Under bishop Azcona Imberto, the entire church was once more restored beginning in 1684. The building was almost finished in 1695, but the sacristy and flanking towers of the façade were still unfinished.

3. There are 12 Neo-Classical Columns  Representing the Twelve Apostles of Christ

Facade of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires, Argentina – By Alexis González Molina – Wikimedia Commons

Construction of a façade began in the early 19th century directed by Spanish architect Tomás Toribio. The project did not advance much. A new Neoclassical façade for the church was constructed beginning in 1826 by French architects Prosper Catelin and Pierre Benoit.

They had been influenced by the Palais Bourbon in Paris. A large portico with twelve columns and a triangular pediment on top, modeled after classical architecture, makes up the building’s façade.

The front’s twelve Neo-Classical columns, which support a triangular frontispiece, symbolize the twelve apostles of Christ. Instead of looking like a Catholic church, the building has a portico that gives it the appearance of an old temple.

4. In 1620, Buenos Aires Was Made the Seat of Bishopric by Pope Paul V

Portrait of Paulus V – By (Camillo Borghese) – Wikipedia

Pope Paul V appointed Buenos Aires as the location of a bishopric in 1620. Its main church was now considered to be a cathedral.

5. The Nave of The Cathedral Collapsed In 1752

On the evening of May 23, 1752, the cathedral’s nave collapsed. The façade and towers were the only parts that were still standing. The rest of the building needed to be completely rebuilt.

The project was assigned to Italian architect Antonio Masella, and construction on it started as early as 1753. Masella created a grand church that was far larger than the preceding one. He built a majestic church with a three-aisled nave covered with barrel vaulting and lateral chapels.

The crossing was to be covered by a dome. The dome had to be rebuilt after fractures in the building were discovered after it was finished. Masella was dismissed from the project and put on trial by the authorities; nevertheless, he was later found not guilty.

6. The Cathedral Has Some Elements from Colonial Times

the high altar at Catedral Metropolitana – By Barcex – Wikipedia

Some colonial-era components of the cathedral are still there. The main Rococo-style giltwood altarpiece, which was created in 1785 by Spanish sculptor Isidro Lorea, is the most significant.

The altarpiece occupies the main chapel. It has a statue of the Virgin Mary and a representation of the Holy Trinity in its canopy. The Christ of Buenos Aires is another noteworthy example of a colonial sculpture.

It is a sizeable representation of the crucified Christ housed in the altarpiece of the lateral arm of the transept. The statue is the oldest in the cathedral and was created by Portuguese artist Manuel do Coyto in 1671. The believers claim that it miraculously spared the city from flooding in the eighteenth century.

7. Has The Finest Walcker Organ Ever Manufactured

There’s a Walcker organ (Opus 263) from 1871 in the Cathedral. It was manufactured in Germany with the best materials at the time and includes more than 3500 pipes.

This organ has been quite well preserved, and the intonation has been kept as true to the original as possible. Currently, it is regarded as one of the best Walcker Organs ever produced.

8. The Cathedral Could Be Considered as A Pictorial Museum as Well

Interior of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires. Chapel of Our Lady of Carmen. The small image displayed corresponds to Our Lady of Luján – By Barcex – Wikimedia Commons

One may even think of the Cathedral itself as a museum of images. For instance, for the Calvarium (14 stations, always present in any catholic church) there are 14 magnificent pictures.

The pictures are made “al óleo”(with oil painting and traditional canvas), all originals, with dimensions of more than 1.5 by 1 meter.

9. In 1880, General José De San Martín’s Remains Were Placed in The Mausoleum

General José de San Martin’s remains were imported from France and placed in a mausoleum. The mausoleum is reachable from the right aisle of the church.

The mausoleum was specially designed by French sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. It was built with marble of various colors.

The black sarcophagus is guarded by three life-size female figures that represent Argentina, Chile, and Peru. These three regions were freed by the General.

10. Pope Francis Served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires

Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013. This is the cathedral’s modern-day claim for fame. As the main church of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, Catedral Metropolitana forms the center of catholic life in the city.