Cathedral of Potosí

Introduction

The Cathedral Basilica of Potosí stands on Plaza 25 de Mayo in the heart of Potosí, Bolivia, the spiritual and urban symbol of the city that was once the world's largest silver mining center. The original church was built in the 16th century during the early silver boom; the present Neoclassical building was designed by architect Manuel Sanjinés, begun in 1809 and completed in 1838. The symmetrical twin-tower facade rises above a tall dome, with a three-nave interior that displays colonial religious paintings, silver reliquaries and Baroque altars. Potosí's immense silver wealth is reflected in the cathedral's scale and ornament; inscribed as part of the City of Potosí UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, it is the key landmark for understanding the religious and economic history of a colonial mining city.

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