Cathedral of La Plata
Coordinates: 34°55′22.38″S 57°57′22.74″W / 34.9228833°S 57.9563167°W
- To be distinguished from the Cathedral of Sucre, Bolivia, formerly La Plata
The Cathedral of La Plata in La Plata, Argentina, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is the 58th tallest church in the world. This Neogothic edifice is located in the geographical center of the city, facing the central square, Plaza Moreno, and the City Hall.
Inspired by the European cathedrals of Amiens and Cologne, its plans were drawn by architect Ernesto Meyer under the direction of city planner Pedro Benoit. The cornerstone was laid in 1884, and it was consecrated as the Parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in 1902. The parish church, which continued undergoing works, was designated a cathedral in 1932.
Restoration and completion
In the 1930s, fearing that the foundation had been underestimated, workers halted construction. The spires were left unfinished and the exterior brick work was left undressed. In the mid 1990s, an ambitious plan of restoration and completion was carried out. The 1990s plan included the following:
- Strengthening the foundation.
- Installing a 25-bell carillon.
Once the bricks were restored, the decision was made to leave them undressed. The building's exposed-brick exterior is thus unusual to some extent, and it makes La Plata Cathedral resemble the brick Gothic style of many churches in northern Europe, such as Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden and Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark. The refurbishment was inaugurated to the public in the year 2000.
With its towers rising 367 feet (112 m), it is among the sixth tallest churches in the Americas.
See also
- List of highest church naves
- List of tallest churches in the world
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of La Plata
External links
- (Spanish) Excursión a la Catedral de La Plata
Videos
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Catedral de La Plata. |
- Catedral de La Plata (YouTube.com video)
- Catedral de La Plata (YouTube.com video)