Basílica de San Ponciano, Catholic basilica in central La Plata, Argentina.
The Basílica de San Ponciano is an eclectic Catholic church at 48th Street between 5th and diagonal 80 in La Plata, with Neo-Gothic predominance. The Argentine engineer Pedro Benoit designed it; the first stage opened in 1896, and the bell tower with four of its five bells followed. Its stained-glass entrance door, made by Theo Mayr Rohrerhohe of Koblenz, shows scenes from the life of Jesus and the apostles.
The church's foundation was laid in 1883 and marked an early turning point in La Plata's urban development. It subsequently became a major center of worship for the growing city and maintained this role for several years.
The stained-glass windows at the entrance, made by the firm Theo Mayr Rohrerhohe of Koblenz, show scenes from the life of Jesus and the apostles. The sacristy windows, finished 91 years after those of the church, depict the seven sacraments crowned by the Holy Spirit. The basilica keeps the camarín of Our Lady of Luján brought from the earlier shrine in Luján.
The church is accessible to visitors who wish to explore the interior, and services are held regularly throughout the week. Keep in mind that this is an active place of worship, so visitors should be respectful and dress appropriately.
The basilica holds the largest pipe organ in the south of Argentina, not of South America as often claimed. The instrument is one of several interior features brought from abroad: the altarpieces are Spanish, the chandeliers French, and the floor is decorated with venecitas.
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