Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa
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Template:Infobox church The Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa ("Basílica Catedral", in Spanish) it's located in the Main Square "Plaza de Armas" of the city of Arequipa, province of Arequipa, Peru. It is the most important Catholic church of the city and also of the larger Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Arequipa since it is the base of the archbishop and the metropolitan council. The cathedral is also considered one of Peru's most unusual and famous colonial cathedrals since the Spanish conquest.
History
Early construction
On August 15 1540, the city of Arequipa 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..."
The representatives of the Council, Justice and Directorate of the city signed a contract with the architect Pedro Godínez in February of 1544, then regent of the city and commander of San Juan Bautista de Characato, and the carpenters Juan Rodríguez and Gregorio Álvarez to build the church.
In September 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 volcanic ignimbrite (sillar). The church is built with two main sections. The progress of construction of the church was destroyed after a major earthquake in 1583.
In 1590, it was 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 three sections, arcs and vaults of brick.
When construction was almost finished in 1600, 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.
In 1609, 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.
On January 27, 1621, Mr. Andrés de Espinoza was assigned the construction of the cathedral. In 1628, Espinoza died.
In 1656, the construction of the cathedral was finished. It had three sections, 180 feet long by 84 feet wide (84.86 m by 25.6 m), 8 pillars, 5 chapels, 22 arcs, 15 brick vaults. Between 1656 and 1668, numerous earthquakes caused damage to the cathedral.
Reconstruction efforts
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Two major earthquakes in 1687 and 1784. Some damage was caused to the cathedral, but no structural damage. Partially reconstruction of the façade started immediately.
In 1844, a fire destroyed several parts of the church and many paintings, sculptures and furniture pieces, as well as several vaults and pillars. Present reconstruction work was made, 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. In this restoration it was enlarged reaching the place of the old San Juan church (destroyed in 1784).
In 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. The clock of the tower, made in England, was installed in 1954. Also the music organ and twelve giant wood sculptures, all made in Belgium, of the apostles.
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 in 1879. It was given to the church by Javiera Lizárraga de Alvarez Comparet.
A violent and long earthquake in 1868 destroyed several parts of the cathedral: the towers, part of the main portal, some of the façade arcs, and 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 façade arcs were rebuilt.
The 2001 southern Peru earthquake measuring 8.1 on the Richter scale on June 23. The left tower was destroyed, and the right tower suffered major damage. On the anniversary of its foundation, 15 August 2002, Mayor Manuel Guillén finished the restoration of the towers.
Overview
Exterior
The cathedral was built with ignimbrite (volcanic rock) and brick vaults; it is the city's main sanctuary, occupying the entire north side of the Plaza de Armas. Constructed entirely of sillar (volcanic stone), it exhibits a Neo-Renaissance style with some Gothic influence. Its façade consists of seventy columns with Corinthian capitals, three portals, and two large side arches. It is crowned by two tall, stylized Renaissance towers.
The building was rebuilt after the fire of 1844. Its architecture is Neoclassical. The church is decorated with a large organ of Belgian origin (one of the largest in South America), a large chandelier from Seville, a French Neo-Gothic pulpit, Carrara marble, and European wood carvings. It also houses treasures of gold and silverwork, such as two monstrances adorned with gold and diamonds.
Interior
Inside is the main altar, made of Carrara marble and crafted by Felipe Maratillo. The interior of the cathedral consists of three naves. In the central nave, the incomparable pulpit stands out, carved from oak by the artist Buisine Rigot in Lille, France, depicting Christ defeating the serpent. At the far end is a Belgian organ, valued for being one of the largest in South America. The Chapel of the Lord of Great Power is frequently visited by locals.
See also
Related Sites
References
- Pages with broken file links
- Roman Catholic churches in Arequipa
- Roman Catholic cathedrals in Peru
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1656
- Basilica churches in Peru
- Tourist attractions in the Department of Arequipa
- 1656 establishments in the Spanish Empire
- Renaissance architecture in Peru
- 17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Peru