The Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires is the city's main Catholic church. It is located in the San Nicolás district, on the corner of San Martn and Rivadavia streets, facing Plaza de Mayo.
Since its humble beginnings in the 16th century, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires has been restored multiple times. With an 18th-century nave and dome and a severe 19th-century Neoclassical façade without towers, the current structure is a combination of architectural styles. The interior houses valuable 18th-century statues and altarpieces, as well as Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque ornamentation.
The Metropolitan Cathedral, which faces the Plaza de Mayo, is the Catholic Church's principal location in Argentina and is where Pope Francis used to perform mass as Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio before entering office in the Vatican in 2013. The Pope Francis Museum, which houses some of Bergoglio's personal and liturgical objects, is now housed in the Cathedral in his honor.
The front wall of the Cathedral is embellished with religious symbolism and a votive light whose permanent flame honors the liberator General Jose de San Martin and the Unknown Soldier during the American Revolutionary War.
The interior of the Cathedral is decorated in neo-Romanesque and neo-Baroque styles, with five naves and a transept topped by a 41-meter high vault. Its floors are covered in Venetian mosaics depicting numerous religious symbols, such as the passionflower, or "mburucuyá" in Guarana, which represents Christ's Passion.
Begin on the right side of the nave. The mausoleum of San Martin and the Unknown Soldier can be found as you pass the third church. French sculptor Louis-Robert Carrier-Belleuse created this marble pantheon. Three female sculptures symbolizing Argentina, Chile, and Peru surround the coffin, recalling the countries liberated by General San Martin. The grenadiers at the tomb's entrance keep vigil and pay honor to their institution's founder.
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
