Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of La Paz — Attraction in La Paz

On the corner of bustling Plaza Murillo stands one of La Paz’s most impressive religious structures, the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. In 1622, construction of the Cathedral first began, taking 70 years to complete. Initially, the building was made from stone, brick and lime, however in 1831 cracks started to appear threatening to collapse the Cathedral. In 1831 the decision was made to demolish the building completely. In 1834 several taxes were imposed in the department of La Paz in order to raise the 30,000 pesos a year needed to reconstruct the Cathedral. Construction on the current Cathedral began on March 24, 1835, led by architect Manual Sanahuja. The Cathedral was officially opened in 1925 as part of the centenary of the founding of the Republic of Bolivia. However, work remained to be done. Furnishing of the interior continued until 1932. The building itself was not completely finished until 1989, over 150 years since construction began, when the two lateral towers on the outside of the Cathedral were added to coincide with a visit by Pope...

Built in 1835, a neoclassic architecture with baroque elements. There are five naves in the interior but seems to need some love and maintenance both inside and outside. Visitors are free to enter and pictures with no flashes are allowed. The entrance has staircases and doesn’t have...

Iniciado en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX, este lugar presenta una curiosa imagen construida con cantera, en la que resalta la templada influencia de la arquitectura misional desarrollada en la región, aunque también muestra un áspero estilo Neoclásico. En su interior conserva algunas pinturas de buena calidad, algunas de ellas realizadas en el siglo XVIII y que proceden de varias de las misiones que fueran fundadas por los frailes jesuitas, hoy en ruinas o desaparecidas. La fachada está dividida en dos juntas, en el interior hay cinco portadas grabadas en bronce. En el costado izquierdo existe una capilla donde se guardan los restos del Mariscal Andrés de Santa Cruz y Calahumana. El campanario abovedado, con sus enormes pilares y sus sólidos muros de piedra. La catedral se extiende a lo largo de una cuadra entera. Notablemente, su entrada en...