• Submitted by: manso
• Society
• 10 / 03 / 2011

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By: Marta Cabrales. 02 de Octubre 2011. Santiago de Cuba, (PL).- Located near the Céspedes Park, the cathedral, built in 1522, has been submitted to several reforms and has also been refurbished on four occasions as a consequence of fires, earthquakes and the attacks of corsairs and pirates. The cathedral, which was originally the tallest wooden building in Cuba, was granted the status of Small Basilica in 1882.

The metropolitan cathedral of Santiago de Cuba -the first one ever built in Cuba- is under restoration works to return it to its original splendor.

Omar López, Director of the City’s Preservation Office (OCC) and National Architecture Prize laureate, explained that restoration works, which at present focus mainly on the central dome, are as part of efforts by the authorities to beautify the old city on occasion of its 500th anniversary.

He highlighted the tremendous efforts by specialists and workers with OCC to guarantee the high quality of the works begun several months ago and aimed at improving the appearance of one of the city’s visual icons.

Located near the Céspedes Park, the cathedral, built in 1522, has been submitted to several reforms and has also been refurbished on four occasions as a consequence of fires, earthquakes and the attacks of corsairs and pirates.

The cathedral, which was originally the tallest wooden building in Cuba, was granted the status of Small Basilica in 1882.

The cathedral houses the Archdiocese Museum ‘Monsignor Enrique Pérez Serantes’, the only one of its kind in Cuba.

Translation: Lena B. Valverde (Cubarte)