Cathedral of La Plata
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Coordinates: 34°55′22.38″S 57°57′22.74″W / 34.9228833°S 57.9563167°W The Cathedral of La Plata, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, is the largest Roman Catholic sanctuary in the city of La Plata in Argentina, and one of the largest in Latin America. This Neogothic edifice is located in the geographical center of the city, facing the central square, Plaza Moreno, and the City Hall.
Inspired by the European cathedrals of Amiens and Cologne, its plans were drawn by architect Ernesto Meyer under the direction of city planner Pedro Benoit. The cornerstone was laid in 1884.
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[edit] Restoration and completion
In the 1930s, fearing that the foundation had been underestimated, workers halted construction. The spires were left unfinished and the exterior brick work was left undressed. In the mid 1990s, an ambitious plan of restoration and completion was carried out. The 1990s plan included the following:
- Strengthening the foundation.
- Installing a 25-bell carillon.
Once the bricks were restored, the decision was made to leave them undressed. The building's exposed-brick exterior is thus unusual to some extent, and it makes La Plata Cathedral resemble the brick Gothic style of many churches in northern Europe, such as Uppsala Cathedral in Sweden and Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark. The refurbishment was inaugurated to the public in the year 2000.
With its towers rising 367 feet, it is among the four tallest churches in the Americas.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- (Spanish) Official site
- (Spanish) Excursión a la Catedral de La Plata
[edit] Videos
- Catedral de La Plata (YouTube.com video)
- Catedral de La Plata (YouTube.com video)
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