Catedral Metropolitana

About Catedral Metropolitana

📜 History

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Buenos Aires has its origins in the very foundation of the city. On June 11, 1580, Juan de Garay established the first European settlement on the site, and between 1584 and 1587 the first religious building was constructed on the plot occupied by the current temple. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the building underwent several reconstructions and expansions due to collapses and structural deterioration. In 1752, a collapse determined the start of the current work; construction of the new temple began in 1754 under the design of architect Antonio Masella. The main structure was completed on March 25, 1791, although work continued for decades. The neoclassical facade was finished between 1862 and 1863, with the intervention of sculptor José Dubourdieu on the capitals and frieze. In 1880, the mausoleum of General José de San Martín, hero of Argentine independence, was installed inside. On May 21, 1942, the building was declared a national historic monument by the Argentine State, recognizing its heritage value.

🏛️ Architecture

The temple features a neoclassical-style facade inspired by the Palais Bourbon in Paris, with twelve columns symbolizing the Apostles. The facade project was the work of French architect Próspero Catelin, who presented it around 1822, and its execution included the work of sculptor José Dubourdieu on the reliefs and capitals. The interior is organized into five naves, with a central nave approximately one hundred meters long and a total area of around three thousand square meters. The dome rises over a circular drum and reaches forty-one meters in height. The Venetian mosaic floor was designed in 1907 by Carlo Morra and manufactured in England. Among the interior elements are the Churrigueresque-style altar with golden ornamentation, the sculpture of the Santo Cristo de Buenos Aires carved in polychromed carob wood, and the narthex or vestibule, an element uncommon in Argentine cathedrals. Pedro Benoit also participated in various stages of the work. The combination of European influences and local materials distinguishes the building within the country's architectural heritage.

⭐ Key Facts

The Metropolitan Cathedral was for centuries the seat of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, the most important diocese in the country, a function it held until September 7, 2024, when primacy was transferred to the Cathedral of Santiago del Estero. Its historical relevance is directly linked to the political and religious history of Argentina: inside rests the mausoleum of General José de San Martín, Father of the Nation and a central figure in the independence of Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The temple also houses a memorial in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust and the 1994 attack on the AMIA headquarters, consolidating its function as a space for collective memory. Declared a national historic monument on May 21, 1942, the cathedral receives visitors throughout the week, with hours from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. It offers guided tours and audio guides in several languages for those who wish to learn in detail about its history and artistic heritage.

Located facing the Plaza de Mayo, in the historic heart of Buenos Aires, the cathedral opens its doors every day of the week. Its five naves, its neoclassical facade, and the San Martín mausoleum offer a journey through more than four centuries of Argentine history. Guided tours and audio guides in several languages facilitate understanding of the artistic heritage and history of the building for first-time visitors.

✍️ Curated by Benjamín Restrepo · Last updated: 2026-04-14
Information verified by the EncuentraIglesias editorial team