Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
The Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (English: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe or simply Ponce Cathedral) is the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ponce located in downtown Ponce, Puerto Rico. The cathedral lies in the middle of Ponce's town square, known as Plaza Las Delicias, located at the center of the Ponce Historic Zone. For its historic significance, the cathedral was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. It is the seat of the Bishop of Ponce, currently Rubén González Medina.
Catedral Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe of Ponce | |
U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
Front facade of Ponce Cathedral | |
Location of Ponce and the cathedral in Puerto Rico | |
| Location | Plaza Las Delicias Ponce, Puerto Rico |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 18°00′43″N 66°36′50″W |
| Area | 2,960 m2 (31,900 sq ft) |
| Built | 1839 |
| Architect | Francisco Porrata Doria (1932 facade) |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| MPS | 19th Century Civil Architecture in Ponce TR (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000467 |
| Added to NRHP | 10 December 1984 |
The cathedral has a history that dates to 1670. It has been damaged several times by fires and earthquakes. It stands out among Puerto Rico's other four cathedrals for its intricate design. It has a large pipe organ that was played by danza master and composer Juan Morel Campos. Architecturally, it is designed in the neoclassical style. Structurally, it follows a cruciform plan, with a large dome at the crossing. The interior consists of a main nave and two large aisles separated by a series of eight arcades. There are two small chapels in its interior. Two three-story square towers decorate the front facade.