La Asunción Cathedral facts for kids
The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de La Asunción (which means Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption) is a very old and important church in Venezuela. It's located in a place called La Asunción on Margarita Island. This cathedral is special because it was finished in 1571, making it the oldest church in Venezuela! It's the main church for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Margarita.
How the Cathedral Was Built
This amazing church was built a long, long time ago, between 1570 and 1571. It is the oldest church in Venezuela and one of the first ever built in the Americas! Its construction started even before the cathedral in Santa Ana de Coro.
A priest named Juan de Manzanillo, who was part of the Dominican order, helped start the church. Sadly, the church was later damaged by French Lutherans. By the year 1602, people said the cathedral was "in ruins."
But people didn't give up! Work to rebuild the church started again in 1609. After eleven more years of hard work, the cathedral was finally completed in 1621.
Cool Features of the Cathedral
The cathedral is located in the beautiful Plaza Bolivar, surrounded by trees. It has a rectangular shape with very thick, strong walls. These walls were built to protect the church from pirate attacks!
The main part of the cathedral is about 17 meters (56 feet) wide and 48 meters (157 feet) long. Inside, you'll see two rows of huge columns that hold up the roof. There's also a special bell tower outside. The original bells from this tower are now kept safely in the plaza.
This cathedral is one of the most important religious buildings on Margarita Island. Many people come here to worship the Virgin of La Asunción. The cathedral has been named a historical city monument, which means it's a very important part of the city's history.
The outside and inside of the church look quite simple. However, its left side tower, which was built in 1599, is the oldest tower of its kind in the entire country! The entrance of the church is built in a style called Renaissance, which was popular for art and buildings a long time ago. For many years, until the 1800s, this church was seen as a perfect example of how a church should be built.
Special Celebrations
The most important celebration at the cathedral happens in the middle of August each year. It's a festival to celebrate the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. During this time, there's a special procession, and a church service is held inside the cathedral.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (Isla de Margarita) para niños
- Catholic Church in Venezuela
- List of cathedrals in Venezuela
