Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Cathedral in Old Havana, Cuba
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is a Baroque church from the 18th century in the heart of Old Havana, facing Plaza de la Catedral. It is built from local coral stone and features two bell towers of unequal size, three naves, several side chapels, and a black and white marble floor.
The Jesuits began construction of the church in 1749 but were expelled from Cuba in 1767 before it was finished. Work resumed later, and in 1777 the building became a cathedral when religious objects from the old church at Plaza de Armas were moved here.
The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and her feast day draws local communities together for prayer and music each year. Inside, visitors can see frescoes by the Italian painter Giuseppe Perovani, as well as oil paintings by French artist Jean-Baptiste Vermay, who also founded Havana's first art school.
The cathedral sits directly on Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana and is easy to reach on foot from most of the historic center. Visiting in the early morning or late afternoon tends to be more comfortable, as there are fewer people around and the light on the coral stone is at its best.
From 1796 to 1898, the cathedral held the remains of Christopher Columbus before they were sent back to Spain. A gravestone inside the church still marks this chapter, which many visitors walk past without knowing.
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