Iglesia de Santa María del Rosario, Baroque Catholic parish church in Cotorro, Cuba
Iglesia de Santa María del Rosario is a baroque parish church in Cotorro built of stone and mortar with eleven altars throughout its interior. The central altar features a large golden Solomonic column that forms a striking focal point within the sacred space.
The church was built between 1760 and 1766 and received the designation Cathedral of the Fields of Cuba in 1812 from Bishop Espada. This recognition reflected its growing religious importance during the colonial period.
The church serves as the spiritual center of Cotorro where residents gather for regular Catholic services and religious celebrations. It remains deeply woven into the community's religious and social life.
The church sits approximately 20 kilometers southeast of central Havana and welcomes visitors interested in its religious architecture throughout the day. You can visit at any time to explore the interior, especially when services are not taking place.
Dr. Tomás Romay y Chacón, the first Cuban graduate in medicine, was baptized here in 1764 and connects this place to an important moment in Cuban medical history. His baptism marked the beginning of a life that would shape medicine on the island.
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