The Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

: ''Catedral de San Carlos Borromeo'') is a Catholic

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a place/building for Christian religious activities and praying * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian comm ...

Matanzas Matanzas (Cuban ; ) is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas Province, Matanzas. Known for its poets, culture, and Afro-American religions, Afro-Cuban folklore, it is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Mat ...

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

. It is the seat of

Manuel Hilario de Céspedes y García Menocal Manuel may refer to: People * Manuel (name), a given name and surname * Manuel (''Fawlty Towers''), a fictional character from the sitcom ''Fawlty Towers'' * Manuel I Komnenos, emperor of the Byzantine Empire * Manuel I of Portugal, king of Po ...

, the

Bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...

of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Matanzas The Diocese of Matanzas (Spanish: ''Diócesis Católica Romana de Matanzas'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastic territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Cuba. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdi ...

History

The foundation stone of the church was laid on 12 October, 1693, and the first Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Santiago,

Diego Evelino Hurtado de Compostela Bishop Diego Evelino Hurtado Vélez (1638 in Santiago de Compostela, Spain - August 29, 1704 in Havana, Cuba) was the Bishop of Diocese of Santiago de Cuba (now the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba). He was known as Bishop Diego Evelino Hurtado d ...

. The original church was a simple structure constructed of fronds of the

royal palm ''Roystonea regia'', commonly known as the royal palm, Cuban royal palm, or Florida royal palm, is a species of Arecaceae, palm native to Mexico, the Caribbean, Florida, and parts of Central America. A large and attractive palm, it has been plan ...

. It was soon destroyed in a storm and construction commenced on the present church. The building was finished in 1735 with all its facilities were in use by 1750. It is a beautiful and elegant church with frescoes on the walls, ceilings and in the big dome. After years of neglect due to poor funding, the cathedral was carefully restored in 2017.San Carlos Borromeo Cathedral aspires to National Restoration Prize, Radio 26-CU website, 2017
(retrieved 27 January 2022)

Location

The cathedral is in the neighborhood of

; the section of the city between the two rivers, the Yumuri and San Juan. A half block from the ''Parque de la Libertad'' (Freedom Park) and the ''Palacio Provincial'' (Provincial Palace). It is located on ''calle'' Jovellanos (Jovellanos Street), between Milanes and Independence streets.

Notes

Gallery

File:Matanzas Cathedral's North Tower.jpg, Matanzas Cathedral's North Tower File:A Bell and the South Tower of the Matanzas Cathedral.jpg, South Tower

History

Location

Notes

Gallery

See also