Cuba: Santiago de Cuba – Cathedral Basilica of Santiago de Cuba
Cathedral Basilica of Santiago de Cuba stands right on the main square, the Cespedes Park. It is one of the most important religious building in the country, a massive building towering over the rest of the city. The first church was built here in 1528, and then sacked by pirates and rebuilt, then sacked by pirates again in 1662, then rebuilt, then destroyed by an earthquake, rebuilt, destroyed by another earthquake, rebuilt again, destroyed again, and finally rebuilt in its fifth iteration in 1874 as the highest place in the city. The cathedral exhibits a mix of architectural styles, including baroque, neoclassical, and renaissance feature. The cathedral’s impressive facade faces the main square and has twin bell towers and a grand entrance stone carvings and sculptures. Inside, there is the famous Cruz de la Parra that was brought by Columbus himself, plus lots of beautiful frescos and statues.
