Caracas Cathedral, Caracas (must see)

The Caracas Cathedral is the seat of the archdiocese of Caracas, located in one corner of the Plaza Bolívar. The colonial chapel of the Trinity is notable because it is where the parents and wife of Simón Bolívar are buried. The construction of the cathedral was begun in 1666 by Juan de Medina, to replace a small church that was destroyed in the earthquake of 1641. Construction was completed in 1674. The facade, dating from 1771, is the work of Francisco Andrés de Meneses. After the earthquake of 1812, one of its towers was damaged and later reduced in size. A frontispiece was constructed in the facade in 1866. In 1932 and during the 1960s restoration and modifications were made throughout the building.

The cathedral has a romanesque plan consisting of five naves: a central one and two minor ones on each side. The central nave is separated from the lateral ones by octagonal columns with composite capitals, supporting round arches. The main altar and altarpiece are inside the presbytery located at the end of the central nave. The sacral art in the cathedral contains among others The Resurrection by Rubens, the Presentation of the Virgin by Murillo, and the Last Supper, an unfinished work by the Venezuelan painter Arturo Michelena.