Cuba’s First Cathedral

Georgina Suárez Hernández
Cubasí
July, 2004

Originally two buildings were planned to house the ancient cathedral of Santiago de Cuba, the first one still stands in the city but a second construction project thought commanded by Pope Leon X in 1518 was never carried out.

The first facility dates from the early 16th century and was many times seriously damaged, demolished and completely destroyed and rebuilt again in the following two centuries. The wing overlooking the
Plaza de Armas dates from 1810 - 1818 but later endured not a few remodelling works.

Long before starting reconstruction works started following the 1770 earthquake numerous disagreements and other complications seemed to delay eternally the beginning of the operations.

Meanwhile architecture projects and designs went to and from the King’s court. However, here on the island regular masses took place and local people increasingly attended them basically on Sundays until one day in 1802, seeing that the facility was about to fall into pieces, attendees had to run away not to die crushed.

Finally from the metropolis a more demanding order came to start reconstruction works that had been delayed for over 20 years of continuous useless hesitations.

It foresaw a more proportionate and comfortable facility composed of 5 big rooms with a more secured and fine carpentry structure including arcs, domes, and pillars fixed in the hope that could prevent somehow damages caused by tremors.

In 1879 the holly Basilica de Letrán was finished, while in 1882 the building was officially declared as the Cathedral Basilica standing out at the south side of Parque Cespedes and being a real pride of the city’s neighbours.

Highly praised are the cathedral’s many valuable artworks that basically make up its indoor deco and patrimony, as well as the dedicated architecture work performed on the building external walls and façade.

Cubasí Translation Staff