Architectural Photography: Havana Cathedral, the Baroque jewel of Cuba

Hi there my Steemit friends and followers!

I have already shared many photos from Cuba with you but a vast majority of them featured either classic American cars or the iconic colorful colonial architecture - two of the most recognized symbols of this extraordinary Caribbean country.

However, Cuba is also home to some impressive religious buildings. Also known as the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception, the Havana Cathedral is undoubtedly one of them and I was really amazed by the monumentality and beauty of this church when I first saw it.

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Situated at the Plaza de la Catedral (the Cathedral Square) in the center of Old Havana, the Havana Cathedral is one of just 11 Roman Catholic cathedrals found in Cuba. Completed in 1777, it is considered one of the most important and finest examples of the Baroque architectural style in the country.

The cathedral is made out of coral that was cut off reefs on the bottom of the sea and if you take a closer look at the walls, you can actually find fossilized marine animals there.

According to an old legend, however, the cathedral once used to hold remains of a prominent historical figure too - it is believed that it was the resting place of Christopher Columbus himself.

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You might have also noticed that the cathedral is somewhat asymmetrical. The right bell tower is actually wider than the left one. I was not really sure why though so I had to "ask" Wikipedia and here is what it said:

"The asymmetrical bell towers allow for water that tends to accumulate on the plaza after a heavy rainfall to flow through the streets and out into the sea."

Well, I still do not really understand how the difference in the width of the towers can influence the outflow of the rain water but maybe someone will clarify that in the comments below.

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The cathedral is beautifully decorated both from the outside and in the inside. The external walls are embellished with impressive mosaics while the interior contains a number of frescoes and paintings including copies of artworks by some of the most renowned Baroque European painters such as Rubens and Murillo.

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The cathedral also makes for a perfect backdrop to romantic events such as weddings. I went for a monochrome shot here to match the contrast of the bride´s white dress and the groom´ black suit :)

All four photos featured in this post were taken by me and they are also my entries for today´s #architecturalphotography contest hosted by @juliank.

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