The Córdoba Cathedral is the central church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Córdoba, Argentina

Córdoba, Argentina

Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...

, and the oldest church in continuous service in Argentina.

Overview

Construction on the original church, the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción began in 1598, and replaced a less permanent structure consecrated in 1580. Its early works were planned by architect Nicolás de Dios, public works director Gregorio Ferreira, and master mason Juan Rodríguez, who employed mostly indigenous

Indigenous peoples of the Americas

The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...

 artisans and laborers. Beams and rafters were planned by Mateo Domínguez, and Hernando Álvarez designed and oversaw installation of the roof's 30,000 mission tiles.

Much of the initial structure was lost in a 1677 collapse. Ricardo González Merguete, a Jesuit architect, was commissioned to reinitiate works, and designed the new structural plans. Gian Battista Primoli provided the floor plan, a latin cross outline based on that of the Jesuit Church of the Gesù

Church of the Gesu

The Church of the Gesù is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. Officially named , its facade is "the first truly baroque façade", introducing the baroque style into architecture ,. The church served as model for innumerable Jesuit...

, in Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...

.
The incomplete church was inaugurated in 1709. Further additions included the cupola

Cupola

In architecture, a cupola is a small, most-often dome-like, structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome....

, designed by Franciscan Friar Vicente Muñoz, the Spanish Baroque façade and the Neoclassical

Neoclassical architecture

Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...

 portico were designed in 1729 by Italian architect Andrea Blanqui (who would design a number of other churches in what today is Argentina). The cathedral was consecrated by Bishop José Antonio de San Alberto in 1784, and the twin campanile

Campanile

Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...

s were completed in 1787. The cathedral is separated from the Córdoba Cabildo

Córdoba Cabildo

The Córdoba Cabildo was the Cabildo of Córdoba, Argentina.-Overview:The local government in Córdoba met in its members' private homes in the first years after the settlement's 1573 establishment. The first structure designated for the purpose was begun in 1588, and was a modest adobe and thatched...

 (colonial town hall, inaugurated in 1786), by the Santa Catalina Promenade.

The narthex

Narthex

The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...

 of the cathedral, and adjacent crypt

Crypt

In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....

s, would be the burial site for a number of prominent figures in the history of Córdoba Province, and the nation's. Some of these include General José María Paz

José María Paz

Brigadier General José María Paz y Haedo was an Argentine military figure, notable in the Argentine War of Independence and the Argentine Civil War.-Childhood:...

 (and wis wife, Margarita Weild), Dean Gregorio Funes

Gregorio Funes

Gregorio Funes , also known as Deán Funes, was an Argentine clergyman, educator, historian, and lawmaker who played a significant role in his nation's early, post-independence history.-Early life and the priesthood:...

, Bishop Hernando de Trejo y Sanabria (the first rector of the University of Córdoba

National University of Córdoba

The National University of Córdoba, , is the oldest university in Argentina, and one of the oldest in the Americas. It is located in Córdoba, the capital of Córdoba Province. Since the early 20th century it has been the second largest university in the country in terms of the number of students,...

, the oldest in Argentina), and Friar Mamerto Esquiú

Mamerto Esquiú

Mamerto de la Ascensión Esquiú, Venerable Servant of God was a historically significant Argentine friar.He was born in Piedra Blanca in Catamarca Province to Esquiú and María de las Nieves Medina...

.

The ornate interior, overlooked by the sterling silver

Sterling silver

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....

 altar

Altar (Catholicism)

In the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church, the altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. Mass may sometimes be celebrated outside a sacred place, but never without an altar, or at least an altar stone.-Precedent:...

 crafted in Colonial Peru

Viceroyalty of Peru

Created in 1542, the Viceroyalty of Peru was a Spanish colonial administrative district that originally contained most of Spanish-ruled South America, governed from the capital of Lima...

, also includes a church tabernacle

Church tabernacle

A tabernacle is the fixed, locked box in which, in some Christian churches, the Eucharist is "reserved" . A less obvious container, set into the wall, is called an aumbry....

 donated to the cathedral in 1804, as well as an extensive collection of silver and gold votive offering

Votive offering

A votive deposit or votive offering is one or more objects displayed or deposited, without the intention of recovery or use, in a sacred place for broadly religious purposes. Such items are a feature of modern and ancient societies and are generally made in order to gain favor with supernatural...

s. The interior was later decorated with fresco

Fresco

Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...

es and mural

Mural

A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...

s painted in the early years of the 20th century by Emilio Caraffa

Emilio Caraffa

-Life and work:Emilio Caraffa was born in Catamarca, Argentina, in 1862. His family relocated to Rosario, where he attended the local National College , and learned to draw and sketch...

, Carlos Camilloni, and Manuel Cardeñosa; a cast iron monument, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer

Christ the Redeemer or Cristo Redentor may refer to:* Sculpture:** Christ the Redeemer , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil** Christ the Redeemer of the Andes, on Argentine-Chilean border** Cristo della Minerva by Michelangelo, in Rome...

) was installed above the portico in 1901.

The Cathedral of Córdoba was declared a National Historic Mounment in 1941, and underwent extensive restoration works from 2007 to 2009.