Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Paraná, National historical monument cathedral in Paraná, Argentina.
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in Paraná is a church in the eclectic style, with two tall towers, a central dome, and three naves inside. It stands on Plaza 1 de Mayo in the center of Paraná, the capital of Entre Ríos province, Argentina.
A chapel stood at the Bajada de Paraná by the river before a parish was created there in 1730. The first church was built in 1732, the second between 1753 and 1756, and the foundation stone of a larger third church was laid on 11 November 1807 by parish priest Antonio Gil y Obligado. The present cathedral, the fourth on the site, follows Juan Bautista Arnaldi's 1882 design.
On 1 January 1825 a popular plebiscite chose the Virgin of the Rosary as patron of Paraná over Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Rose of Lima. In 1944 Bishop Guilland consecrated the whole diocese to her, and Bishop Tortolo later crowned her solemnly. The image in the camarín was brought from San José del Rincón in 1731.
The cathedral sits right on Plaza 1 de Mayo in the city center, so it is easy to reach on foot from most parts of downtown Paraná. Since it is an active place of worship, visiting outside of service times lets you explore the interior more freely.
Inside, a set of stained glass windows throws colored light across the naves at different times of day, changing the way the space looks depending on when you visit. A statue of Saint Peter stands at the entrance, visible from the square before you even step inside.
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