Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires
The city-tours of Buenos Aires use to go through several monuments and touristic attractions too fast, lots of information are told and many times it is impossible to see what is being explained in the opposite side of the bus. Generally, in one of the two bus stops of 10 minutes, the Catedral Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral) is elected for the tourists’ visitation.
In this first visit, I didn’t pay too much attention to the Cathedral, but to the Plaza de Mayo (May Square), where it is. Perhaps to run away from the crowd, because several other tourist buses had stopped in front of the Cathedral at the same time. But when we came to Buenos Aires for the second time, we visited the places by ourselves and we went back to Plaza de Mayo to see its Cathedral with more attention.
But why is this place elected as one of the main places to be shown to the tourists that go for the city-tours?
Maybe because in 1942 it was declared as a Historical Monument. Or for its turbulent history, that from 1580 to 1752 was full of collapses, demolitions, deconstructions, repairs and project changes. At this period of time, five cathedrals were built at this place one after another, but the definitive one that lasts until today would only be the sixth to be constructed.
Externally, the Cathedral has the appearance of an ancient Greek temple, very different of any other church I have ever seen. The facade was concluded in 1823 by the French engineers Próspero Catelin and Pedro Benoit; it has 12 columns that represent the twelve apostles and a relief done in 1863 by Joseph Dubourdieu that represents the reunion of Jacob and his son Joseph in Egypt.
The huge interior impresses: it has 5 naves, and the central one has almost 100 meters of length and was decorated with Renaissance frescoes by Italian Francesco Paolo Parisi. Different styles can be recognized in its interior because the Cathedral was constructed by several architects and men who, depending on the time and opportunity, were adding or changing something, as Baroque elements and others of Romanesque style. The floor is covered with Venetian-style mosaics designed by the Italian Carlo Morra and the Cathedral’s surface is about 3000m².
On the nave’s right side there is a mausoleum with the remains of General San Martin since 1880. This marble mausoleum was done by French sculptor Albert Carrier-Belleuse: a black sarcophagus is guarded by three life-size female figures that represent Argentina, Chile and Peru, three of the regions freed by the General. When we visited the Cathedral, we had the chance to see the Changing of the Guard: some uniformed guards payed honor to San Martin’s memory.
Changing of the Guard
San Martin’s tomb
The main altar of Churrigueresque style (Spanish Baroque) is golden with winding and spiraled shapes and flowers ornaments and was done by Isidro de Lorea.
Main altar
On the left side there is the Chapel of San Martín de Tours and the monument of the Archbishop León Federico Aneiros, a Carrara marble and stone mausoleum, done by the sculptor Victor de Pol. The fourteen Via Crucis paintings were done by Italian Francesco Domenighini. On this side there is also one altar with a wooden sculpture of the Christ of Buenos Aires, and another dedicated to the Virgen de los Dolores.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario de San Nicolás
Surely this Cathedral worth a visit, but I don’t recommend to do it with city-tours. This Cathedral is a place of respect and pray, and between hundreds of tourists and only 10 minutes it is difficult to see all its details and beauties.
Where?
Av. Rivadavia y San Martin | Tel: +54 (11) 4331-2845 / 4345-3369
sepphora | 1:36 pm | Montserrat, National Historic Monument, San Nicolás
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