Catedral de Montevideo (Metropolitan Cathedral), Montevideo (must see)

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Montevideo is the principal Catholic church of the city and the seat of the Archdiocese of Montevideo. Standing on Constitution Square, the site has been used for religious worship since the Spanish colonial period, with the first brick church on this location dating from 1740.

Architecturally, the cathedral is a restrained example of Colonial Neoclassicism, reflecting late-colonial tastes rather than high European academic neoclassicism. The project is traditionally attributed to Spanish architect Tomás Toribio, though, as with many colonial works, it evolved through multiple phases and hands. The main facade was completed in 1860, giving the building its present external appearance.

The interior follows a basilica plan, with a main altar, several side chapels, memorials, tombs, patterned tiled floors, and hanging chandeliers that contribute to its sober, dignified atmosphere. Along the right-hand side of the nave, in a dedicated side chapel, stands a image of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, Patroness of Uruguay. The title refers to the Thirty-Three Orientals who led the independence movement in 1825.

The cathedral also serves as a burial place for a number of notable figures from Uruguay’s history, including clergy, military leaders, and political personalities, reinforcing its role as both a religious and national monument. The building inspired the Paraguayan guitarist and composer Agustín Pío Barrios, who composed the work “La Catedral” after visiting Montevideo.

The cathedral houses artworks by prominent Uruguayan artists, including José Belloni and Juan Manuel Blanes, among others. Its bicentennial was celebrated in 2004, marking two hundred years since its consecration and underscoring its enduring place in Montevideo’s religious, cultural, and historical landscape.