The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, is an imposing Catholic temple, located between Carrera 48 and Calle 56 in the Villanueva neighborhood, just north of Bolívar Park, Its construction began early 1980s and was inaugurated on August 12, 1931.. This magnificent building, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is an outstanding example of neo-romantic architecture.
The design of the cathedral was executed by the French architect Charles Émile Carré, while the detailed ornamentation was carried out by the Italian, Giovanni Buscaglione. The structure of the cathedral, with its 7,300 square meters of surface, adopts the traditional shape of a Latin cross with a transverse aisle and three longitudinal aisles that extend from south to north from its main entrance. Constructed entirely of solid brick, approximately 1,120,000 bricks were used for its construction. It’s the largest structure in the world built in this particular style.
The main facade is characterized by its symmetry and is flanked by two towers of 53.20 meters high to its cross, each divided into three segments that frame the main entrance. These towers provide direct access to the aisles through strategically located doors. Internally, the cathedral houses more than 300 smooth cylindrical columns with reformed Corinthian style capitals, a hallmark of neo-romanticism. The roof is made of baked clay tiles and high-quality wood to resist environmental variations and attacks by pests such as termites.
Inside the cathedral, the atmosphere is typically somber and calm, that is only disturbed during liturgical celebrations. The central aisle, with a width of 14.50 meters including the thickness of the walls and a total length of 98.45 meters, is adorned with 76 stained glass windows of various sizes and designs that arrived to Medellín in 1921. These stained-glass windows provide a unique visual mysticism to the structure. The current lighting of the temple, were design in 1952 in New York, is inspired by ancient medieval chandeliers and has been adapted for the use of electric bulbs, thus maintaining a link with the historical and aesthetic past of the cathedral.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Medellín, without a doubt, is not only one of the most beautiful buildings steeped in history in the heart of the city, but also an architectural and spiritual reference point for its inhabitants and visitors.
