Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa

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The Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa ("Basílica Catedral", in Spanish) is located in the "Plaza de Armas" of the city of Arequipa, province of Arequipa, Peru. It is the most important church of the city and Diocese of Arequipa since it is the base of the Archbishop and Metropolitan council. The cathedral is also considered one of Peru's most unique and famous colonial cathedrals since the Spanish conquest.

[edit] Timeline

August 15, 1540: This is the date in which the city was founded by Garcí Manuel de Carbajal. The Cathedral started construction on this very date. In the "Act of Foundation" of Arequipa, it can be read: "...in the name of its majesty Governor Francisco Pizarro, founded the beautiful village in the valley of Arequipa, in the Collasuyo section, above the river edge, in his name he put the cross, in the location signaled for the Church; He put the pike in the Plaza of the village, which he stated would do in the name of its majesty..."

February 14, 1544: The representatives of the Council, Justice and Directorate of the city signed a contract with the architect Pedro Godínez, then regent of the city and commender of San Juan Bautista de Characato, and the carpenters Juan Rodríguez y Gregorio Álvarez to build the church.

September hbjbh, 1544: Miguel Cornejo, the Mayor of the City, assigned the building of the portal to the master Toribio de Alcaraz, who agreed to build it using white petrified volcanic lava (sillar). The church is build with 2 main sections.

January 22, 1583: An earthquake destroyed the church to rubble.

1590: It is decided to rebuild again the main church, and this is assigned to Gaspar Báez, who is helped by several Spanish officials and many hundreds of "Mitayo" Indians. The new design would have 3 sections, arcs and vaults of brick.

February 1600: When construction was almost finished, the violent eruption of the Huaynaputina stratovolcano (also known as Quinistaquillas or Omate), together with several earthquakes and a rain of ash, destroyed part of the structure.

1604: Another earthquake completely destroyed what was remaining of the structure.

1609: The Bula of Pope Paul V created the Arequipa Diocese, separating it from the one in Cuzco. The Arequipan Catholics had become impoverished since the Volcano eruption, but decided to rebuild the Cathedral.

January 27, 1621: Mr. Andrés de Espinoza was assigned the construction of the Cathedral.

1628: Espinoza died.

1656: The construction of the Cathedral was finished. It had 3 sections, 180 feet long by 84 feet wide, 8 pillars, 5 chapels, 22 arcs, 15 brick vaults.

1666: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

1668: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

1687: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

1784: Earthquake. Some damages, but no structural damage. Reconstruction started immediately.

December 1, 1844: There was a big fire in the Cathedral. The fire destroyed several parts of the church and many paintings, sculptures and furniture pieces, as well as several vaults and pillars.

December 15, 1844: Reconstruction works started, under the direction of the Bishop José Sebastián de Goyeneche y Barreda, and his brother Juan Mariano de Goyeneche. Technical direction was under the architect Lucas Pobrete. A part of it was rebuilt over the old San Juan church (destroyed in 1784) and a 107 mt long by 40 mt high facade, which exists today, was made.

1850: The Bishop Goyeneche assigned the production of several jewelry pieces to adorn the Cathedral to the Spanish jeweler Francisco de Moratilla, who was then jeweler of the Queen of Spain. The nephews of the Bishop (the count of Guaqui, the duchesses of Goyeneche and Gamio and Jose Sebastian de Goyeneche) gave the Cathedral the main altar (still exists today) which was installed by an Italian architect of last name Guido.

1854: The clock of the tower, made in England, was installed. Also the music organ and 12 giant wood sculptures of the apostles, all made in Belgium.

1879: The pulpit, made at the shop of Buisine-Rigot in Lille, France, was installed thanks to the Peruvian ambassador in France, Mr. Juan Mariano de Goyeneche, count of Guaqui. It was given to the church by Javiera Lizárraga de Alvarez Comparet.

August 13, 1868: A violent and long earthquake destroyed several parts of the Cathedral: The towers, part of the main portal, some of the facade arcs, some altars. In the following years, thanks to the Bishop and the Goyeneche family and under the technical direction of Lucas Pobrete, the two towers and the facade arcs were rebuilt.

June 23, 2001: Southern Peru was rocked by an earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale on June 23, 2001. The left tower was destroyed and the right tower suffered big damage.

August 15, 2002: On the anniversary of its foundation, the then Mayor Manuel Guillén finished the restoration of the towers.