Cathedral of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca

The Cathedral San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca or Cathédrale Basilica Nuestra Señora del Valle in Argentine is the seat of the évéché of the town of Catamarca. The diocese is located in province of Catamarca.

Its address is Sarmiento 653,4700 San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca .

The Diocèse belongs to the ecclesiastical Province of Salta.

The Cathedral-Basilica lodges today the statue of the miraculous Virgin called Virgen del Valle .

History

The purpose of the construction of what was going to become large the Basilique Nuestra Señora del Valle , started in 1860, was to give to the statue Virgen del Valle ( Vierge of the Valley ) a residence worthy of this name, the preceding sanctuaries sufficient to contain the thousands of pilgrims more coming to make their devotions with the miraculous Virgin. The project was conceived in 1859 by the architect Luis Caravatti, author in addition of the principal buildings of the provincial capital. Construction was carried out between 1860 and 1875, but being able to be used as church, it was inaugurated in 1869. From the start the basilica of Nuestra Señora del Valle became one of the great Argentinian places of pilgrimage religious.

The diocese of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca was created the February 5th 1910, by the papal bubble " Sollicitudine" of Black and white X. The Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Valle was selected to exert the function of cathedral.

The Diocèse includes/understands in province of Catamarca, the departments of Ambato, Ancasti, Andalgalá, Belén, of Capayán, Capitale, of El Alto, Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Santa Rosa, Paz, Paclín, Pomán, Tinogasta, and Valle Viejo, and this, on a surface of 68.765 km ² (equivalent to that of the Benelux countries). Its population of more than 250.000 inhabitants in 2004 was catholic to 98%.

Description

It is about a vast sanctuary, more important in Argentina, very richly decorated. It is of neo-classic style and eclectic, typical of what was built in Argentina at the time. The frontage presents imposing a Narthex which encroaches on the pavement. It is surrounded laterally of two turns, and is surmounted by a triangular pediment. The narthex is open towards outside by a beautiful colonnade and gives on three gates corresponding to the Nef S of the sanctuary. The cathedral has a large principal vessel and two other side.

It comprised three naves at the beginning. However doubts concerning the solidity of the building occurred quickly, and one undertook the construction of propping up on the two sides of the building, between which one associated two series of side chapels, which contributed to widen the building considerably.

The floor covering made up at the beginning of solids boards of creole caroubier, is enormous a today mosaic marble with geometrical reasons.

The vault

The Coupole presents a great painting representing splendid a Assomption of Marie. She is surrounded of the representations of the four evangelists.

Paintings cover the vault of the central nave, the Transept crossing and the cupola of the cathedral. They were carried out in 1941, for the fiftieth anniversary of the crowning of the Virgin. Located in the central vessel, the reasons for these paintings are drawn from the history of the wonders and miracles allotted to Virgen del Valle or Virgin of the Valley.

One finds there the events occurred in the house of certain Zalazar which lodged the statue. The statue disappeared one day, and it was sought. It was a Basque which brought back it. Later, a fire devastated the cotton of same Zalazar and the intervention of the virgin was necessary to extinguish the flames

Several paintings refer to the wars devastators between Spaniards and Indian Calchaquí S and to the action of the Virgin who put an end to the engagements.

One sees also the Virgin stopping the plague consisted the proliferation of worms and Sauterelle S.

Lastly, there exists a painting representing the many faithful ones going to the sanctuary. Among them allegories are representing arts, sciences and theology as well as the authorities.

See too

the Cathedral of Salta
the List of the cathedrals

Internal bond

See Project Catholicism

External bonds

Site of the Catholic church of Argentina

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