Cathedral Santa Maria La Menor, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Cathedral Santa Maria La Menor also known as Catedral Primada de América is a Roman Catholic Cathedral located in the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Cathedral Santa Maria La Menor is the oldest cathedral in Americas.

The cathedral was built between 1523 and 1540 although the foundation stone was laid by Diego Colón, son of Christopher Columbus already in 1514. The church was consecrated before its construction was completed, in 1535. It was erected to the cathedral status by Pope Paul III in 1546.


Cathedral Santa Maria La Menor combines elements of both Gothic and Romanesque styles with some lavish Plateresque ornamentation. The cathedral claims it housed the remains of Christopher Columbus (until 1992 when they were then transfered the Columbus Lighthouse) although Seville Cathedral also claims it keeps the remains of the most famous navigator.

Old Cathedral of Managua, Nicaragua

Old Cathedral of Managua is a Roman Catholic Cathedral located on the east side of the Republic square in Managua, capital city of Nicaragua. The cathedral was built in Neoclassical style between 1931 and 1938 over the ruins of Santiago church which collapsed in 1871. Old Cathedral was severely damaged in the 1972 earthquake, while restoration was considered impossible because the site of the cathedral turned out very unstable. Instead it was decided to build a new cathedral on a new location. Old Cathedral was proclaimed unsafe to enter and condemned in 1973.

Catholic Church expressed a wish to restore the Old Cathedral in recent years and president of Mexico, Vicente Fox offered aid in restoration. At the moment of writing Old Cathedral still awaits its restoration.

Havana Cathedral, Cuba

Cathedral of Saint Christopher of Havana or Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana is a Roman Catholic Cathedral located on the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana, Cuba. The Jesuits started the construction of the cathedral in 1748 but they were expelled from Spain and its overseas territories one year before it was completed in 1777. The church built by the Jesuits was consecrated as the Havana Cathedral in 1789.

Havana Cathedral was built in Italian Baroque style with one bell tower taller than the other. The cathedral kept some remains of Christopher Columbus from 1796 to 1898, while the sculpture of Saint Christopher, patron saint of Havana from 17th century is still inside the cathedral. Interior of the cathedral is quite simple but worth of visiting. It also houses a collection of art works such as copies of paintings of Rubens and Murillo on the altars and frescoes of Italian artist Giuseppe Perovanni at the top end of the choir.

Cathedral of Saint Christopher was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites as a part of the Old Havana in 1993.

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