Metropolitan Cathedral, Neoclassical cathedral in Plaza de Caycedo, Cali, Colombia

The Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle is Cali's mother church, on the east side of Plaza de Caycedo. The 1772 Baroque project by Antonio García became a Neoclassical building finished in 1842: three naves separated by twelve round arches on fluted Doric pilasters, a brick and reinforced-concrete facade and choir rebuilt after the 1925 earthquake, and a tower left unfinished for decades.

Construction began in 1772 under architect Antonio García with labor provided by prisoners from local facilities. The building was finally completed in 1841 after significant modifications transformed its original Baroque design into the Neoclassical style seen today.

This cathedral serves as the main place of worship for Catholics in Cali, where people gather for Sunday masses, religious holidays, and important life events like weddings. The building holds deep meaning for the local community as a spiritual center where faith is actively practiced and celebrated.

The building sits in the heart of Plaza de Caycedo, making it easy to reach on foot from most of central Cali's attractions and landmarks. It works best to visit during morning or early afternoon hours when the space is less crowded and you can move through the interior at a comfortable pace.

The 1772 first stone was laid by parish priest José Rivera, and the workforce came from Cali's prisons. The Baroque shell was only finished in Neoclassical lines in 1842, and the 1925 earthquake forced engineers Borrero and Ospina to rebuild the facade and bell tower in brick and reinforced concrete.