⛪ Havana Cathedral
Cuba
About This Sacred Site
The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception (Catedral de La Habana) is a Baroque church in the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built between 1748 and 1777 by Jesuit missionaries, the cathedral's asymmetrical twin bell towers and coral limestone facade make it one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in the Caribbean. For over a century, it was believed to house the remains of Christopher Columbus before they were transferred to Seville in 1898.
Key Facts
- •Built by Jesuits between 1748 and 1777 from blocks of local coral limestone
- •The two bell towers are deliberately different widths — a rare asymmetry in Baroque design
- •Believed to have housed the remains of Christopher Columbus from 1796 to 1898
- •Located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic center of Old Havana
- •The facade's coral limestone is embedded with fossilized marine organisms
Location
Coordinates: 23.1416, -82.3516
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