History & Heritage
Visit the Catedral Primada de América
Catedral Primada de América, Zona Colonial
Photo: Mikkel Ulriksen
The Catedral Primada de América, located in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, is one of the Dominican Republic's most important tourist attractions. It holds a lot of historical importance, being the first Catholic cathedral in the Americas and the New World.
Catedral Primada de América, Zona Colonial
Photo: Mikkel Ulriksen
History
The construction of the cathedral was ordered in 1504 by Pope Julio II, but it wasn't until 1514 that the first stone was set by Diego Columbus. It was the arrival of Bishop Alejandro Geraldini in 1519 that accelerated the construction work.
Unfortunately, On March 8, 1524, Geraldini died without finishing the construction. At his death, he was buried in the pre-ministry of the temple, and one of his closest collaborators had a mausoleum built in one of the church's chapels, where he now rests. The construction was finished in 1541. The design and construction work was carried out by Luis De Moya and Rodrigo de Liendo. In 1920, Pope Benedict XV named it Basilica Menor de Santa María.
Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Park, Zona Colonial
Photo: Mikkel Ulriksen
What you'll see at the Cathedral
The imposing Catedral Primada de America is considered by some to be one of the most beautiful architectural works in the Americas. A mixture of different architectural styles, the cathedral displays elements of the Renaissance period, but the Gothic, Plateresque and Mudejar influences are clear. Built with limestone and brick, the cathedral is over thirty thousand square feet and the highest part is 50 feet high.
The Cathedral has three access doors - see if you can tell which two are Gothic and which is in the Plateresque style. One of the doors opens out onto Columbus Park, where there are hundreds of pigeons keeping a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus company. The cathedral has fourteen chapels, each adorned with Saints, biblical scenes, paintings and furniture of great artistic and historical value. It also has a lofty bell tower and central dome.
Columbus Park, Zona Colonial
Photo: Mikkel Ulriksen
Getting there
The Catedral Primada de América is located next to Columbus Park in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo (Spanish: Zona Colonial). Its main entrance is on Arzobispo Meriño street. The other entrance is accessible from Isabel La Católica Street. Each year, thousands of tourists visit this sacred historical place.
The Cathedral is open to the public from Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm and is closed to the general public on Sundays for worship. You can either enter by yourself or book a guided visit (in English, Spanish or French) with one of the agencies located on the surroundings of the Cathedral.
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Written by Nora Pérez.
Published August 2020
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