Havana Cathedral, Catholic cathedral in Old Havana, Cuba
Havana Cathedral is a baroque Catholic cathedral in Old Havana, Cuba, with a facade of coral stone and two bell towers of different widths. Inside, three naves with eight side chapels hold frescoes and sculptures from the 18th century.
Jesuit priests started construction in 1748 and completed it after their expulsion in 1777, when the church became the seat of the archdiocese. Between 1796 and 1898, the remains of Christopher Columbus rested here before transfer to Seville.
The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, whose image stands above the presbytery. The Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto, blessed by Bishop Morell de Santa Cruz in 1755, has its own independent entrance. The building also holds the tomb of Bishop Apolinar Serrano and a 1632 sculpture of Saint Christopher, patron of Havana, carved in Seville by Martín de Andújar Cantos.
The cathedral faces the Plaza de la Catedral, reached by Calle Empedrado between San Ignacio and Mercaderes, or along Mercaderes and San Ignacio from Plaza Vieja. The flying arches over the side aisles, the dome over the transept and the orange roof tiles are not visible from the square, so look for them from the surrounding streets.
The coral stone facade preserves tiny fossils of marine organisms that shimmer in different shades under sunlight. This porous surface gives the building an unusual texture distinct from smoother European church fronts.
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