Cathedral of Córdoba, Argentina facts for kids
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The Cathedral of Córdoba is a very old and important church in Córdoba, Argentina. Its full name is Our Lady of the Assumption (Spanish: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción). It's the oldest church in Argentina that has been used continuously since it was built!
This amazing building is the oldest colonial structure in Argentina that is still standing and being used today. It's considered a very valuable part of Argentina's history and architecture. Because of its importance, it's a National Historic Monument. It's also close to the Jesuit Block, which is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO.
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Where to Find the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Córdoba is right in the middle of the city's historic center. If you look at its southeast corner, it's at the intersection of Independencia and 27 de Abril streets.
The cathedral takes up a whole block facing the west side of San Martín Square. An old alley called Santa Catalina separates the church from the Cabildo (a historic government building). The back of the church faces Rivera Indarte street.
Its main entrance faces the east-south-east. This is a bit unusual for churches from that time. Usually, the main altar would face Jerusalem.
Just north of the Cathedral's back is the small but historic Plazoleta del Fundador. Here you can see a bronze statue of Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera, who founded the city.
A Look at the Cathedral's History
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Construction on the cathedral began in 1582. It was first called the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a name it still uses today. In 1598, master builder Gregorio Ferreira and stonemason Juan Rodríguez started building with strong materials like stone, bricks, and lime.
In 1601, Mateo Domínguez worked on the roof's wooden frame. Hernando Álvarez oversaw the making of 30,000 roof tiles. The Granadan architect Ricardo González Merguete later took charge, creating many plans. The work really sped up thanks to architects and Jesuits. Giovanni Battista Primoli designed the main floor plan, which looks like a Latin cross. He based it on the Jesuit Church of the Gesù in Rome.
The cathedral was officially opened in 1706. In 1758, the Franciscan friar Vicente Muñoz designed and built the dome with its lantern towers. The front of the building was designed and finished by Andrea Bianchi in 1729.
By May 18, 1758, most of the building was done. This included the naves (the main parts of the church), the narthex (the entrance area), the large dome, and the crossings. It also had a grand Neoclassical entrance with a wide staircase. This entrance was closed by a beautiful wrought iron gate showing Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The two large bell towers were completed later, in 1787.
The big entrance door and the choir stalls around the main altar were made by Jesuits. They carved them from missionary cedar wood. The clock on the tower was a gift from the English railway in the late 1800s.
In 1901, a statue of Christ the Redeemer was placed on top of the front of the building. This statue was made in Paris, France.
The narthex of the cathedral and its crypts (underground rooms) became the burial place for many important people from Córdoba Province and Argentina. Some of these include General José María Paz and his wife, Margarita Weild. Also buried here are Dean Gregorio Funes, Bishop Hernando de Trejo y Sanabria (the first leader of the University of Córdoba, Argentina's oldest university), and Friar Mamerto Esquiú.
The inside of the cathedral is very fancy. It has a shining silver altar made in Upper Peru (which is now Bolivia). There's also a church tabernacle (a special cabinet) given to the cathedral in 1804. You can also see a large collection of silver and gold items. In the early 1900s, artists like Emilio Caraffa, Carlos Camilloni, and Manuel Cardeñosa painted beautiful pictures and murals inside.
What Makes the Cathedral Special
The inside of the cathedral is truly beautiful. The large central nave has a high, curved ceiling called a barrel vault. This ceiling is decorated with many carved wooden and gold-leaf designs. The main altar looks balanced with the tall columns and old statues of Catholic saints. Each of these statues is a valuable piece of art. Many of them can even be moved and are dressed in fancy clothes.
Sunlight comes into the church mostly through deep, curved windows called lunettes in the central nave's ceiling. This central nave is higher than the two side naves. Tall, wide, and often golden columns separate them. Above the entrance area, there's a pipe organ.
The main towers have bells. The tower on the southeast corner has a large clock. On the corners of the towers, you can see carved figures. They look like they are playing trumpets and are dressed in traditional clothes.
After you enter through the main portico, you step into the spacious narthex. Here you will find the tombs of José María Paz and his wife, Margarita Weild. The urn holding the remains of Dean Gregorio Funes is also here. In the crypts below, you can find the remains of Bishop Fernando Trexo y Senabria. He was the first leader of Argentina's first university, now called the UNC. Friar Mamerto Esquiú is also buried here. On November 7, 2011, the remains of Juan Bautista Bustos were moved here from Santa Fe.
The main altar is mostly made with fancy silver from Colonial Bolivia.
The dome is located where the central nave crosses another part of the church. Its size and detailed decoration are very impressive. It's a huge dome because of its height and the clever way it was built. It has four octagonal turrets (eight-sided towers) that help support it.
Looking up at the dome from the outside, you can see pairs of columns that end in a ledge. From there, large fin-like shapes climb up the dome's curve. These are topped with pyramid-shaped points. Between the columns of the dome, there are large, curvy windows.
The dome is covered by curved ribs that continue into small columns resting on an archway. Crowning the whole dome is a graceful lantern. This is a small tower decorated with pillars, points, and windows. The lantern is topped with a bulb-shaped dome. On top of that is a large weather vane showing a chalice and a cross.
The entire Cathedral of Córdoba is a wonderful mix of different styles. It combines ideas from the Renaissance, Spanish colonial Baroque, Neoclassicism, and even Mudéjar details.
The cathedral also has a valuable collection of treasures. These include gifts from wealthy people and city collections. You can see silver staffs with gold details, and silver and gold crowns decorated with diamonds and pearls. These were used to "dress" statues of the Virgin Mary. There's also a large tabernacle donated in 1804, and fancy silk shawls. Sadly, some of the cathedral's treasures were stolen in the late 1900s.
Gallery
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Tomb of Gen. José María Paz
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Tomb of Margarita Weild
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Tomb of Dean Gregorio Funes
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Córdoba) para niños
- List of tallest structures built before the 20th century
