Basilicas in Central America
I blogged about the following basilicas on March 8, 2021.
- Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Savior, San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador.
- Basilica of the Black Christ, Esquipulas, Chiquimula, Guatemala.
- Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of St. Mary, Panama, Panama, Panama.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, Cartago, Cartago, Costa Rica
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1935.
The church was originally built in 1639 but dates mostly to the early 20th Century. It employs a mixture of colonial and Byzantine architectural styles. Pilgrims come to view the statue of Our Lady and the Infant Jesus made of volcanic rock and found by a young girl.
Pictures are from Flickr, Pinterest, and Wikipedia (last two).
Basilica of St. Anthony, Managua, Managua, Nicaragua
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1957.
The Basilica was destroyed by an earthquake around 1972 and has not been rebuilt.
Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador
Declared a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1960.
The Basilica was built between 1913 and 1953.
The first pictures is from the basilica website, the second from a local source, and the last two from Pinterest.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, San Vincente, San Vincente, El Salvador
Declared a minor basilica by Pope John XXIII in 1962.
After Our Lady of the Pillar was credited with the prevention of a murder, a church was built in honor of Our Lady. The original small chapel was replaced by the current Baroque church in 1769. The church was damaged by earthquakes in 1936 and 2001 but has been restored. Jose Simeon Canas, who abolished slavery in Central America, is buried in the Basilica.
From Flickr and Pinterest
Basilica of Jesus of Nazareth, Atalaya, Veraguas, Panama
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
The church contains an image of Jesus dating at least to the early 1700s that has attracted pilgrims. Many miracles have been attributed to prayers to Jesus after visiting the icon. The current brick church dates mainly to the late 18th Century although the tower was not completed until 1925.
The first two pictures are from local sources and the third is from Pinterest.
Basilica of St. Sebastian, Diriamba, Carazo, Nicaragua
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1964.
The colonial church was constructed between 1891 and 1939. The stone church was built by an Italian architect and contains paintings by an Austrian artist.
From Flickr and Pinterest.
Cathedral Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace, San Miguel, San Miguel, El Salvador
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1966.
The Basilica is the Cathedral for the Diocese of San Miguel. It was built between 1862 and 1962 using volcanic stone and an eclectic style. It was built as an oratory for Our Lady and did not become a cathedral until 1913.
Pictures are from Flickr, a local source, Pinterest, and Wikipedia.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Guatemala City, Guatemala, Guatemala
Declared a minor basilica by Paul VI in 1969.
The Neoclassical church was built by the Dominicans in the late 18th Century, but has been rebuilt twice after earthquakes.
The first picture is from Flickr, the second from a local source, and the last two are from Wikipedia.
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Tejar, Cartago, Costa Rica
Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1985.
I think this picture is correct. I have no other information.
From a local source.
Basilica of St. John Bosco, Panama, Panama, Panama
Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1988.
No information on this Italianate church.
Pictures are from Dreamstime and a local source.
Basilica and Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception, El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua
Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1995.
The church contains an image of the Virgin Mary dating at least to the 17th Century that is possibly associated with St. Teresa of Avila (16th Century).
All pictures are from local sources.
Basilica of Our Lady of Suyapa, Tegucigalpa, Francisco Morazan, Honduras
Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2015.
An image of the Virgin of Suyapa was discovered in the 18th Century and a small chapel was built in 1780. Pope Pius XI declared the Virgin of Suyapa to be the patron saint of Honduras in 1925. The modern Basilica was constructed between 1954 and 2005.
The first picture is from Pinterest, the second from TripAdvisor, and the last two are from Wikipedia.
