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Visit the Cathedral of Puno

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Home » Puno » Churches and temples in Puno » Visit the Cathedral of Puno

Visit the Cathedral of Puno is one of the important attractions of this beautiful city, if you are in Puno you have to visit it, appreciate the Andean baroque style that presents, it is also considered Cultural Patrimony of the Nation of Peru.

Description of the Cathedral of Puno

The Cathedral of Puno, Basilica Menor de Puno or just Cathedral Basilica of San Carlos Borromeo is one of the most prominent sites that has this city, is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca with a style "Andean Baroque".

For the construction of the temple they used stone, material that stands out in the facade and in the atrium of the temple, the interior is imposing and wide; you will also find two miraculous images that were installed during the first years of the colony, there are the Señor del Quinario or Señor de la Bala and the Virgen de los Remedios and people come to pray.

History of the Cathedral of Puno

Catedral De Puno
Cathedral Of Puno Photo: @mauriciosalas._

The Cathedral of Puno, was concluded at the end of the 70's although it is not known exactly the date of beginning; the cathedral is property of the Catholic Church of Peru, who designated it with the rank of Minor Basilica was the papal bull of Pope Paul VI on October 13, 1965.

It was built in an ancient ceremonial place called "Supay kancha" which translates as the Circle of the Devil or Devil's Enclosure, after the arrival of the Spaniards, when you visit the Cathedral you will notice that it is made of silver and inside it has several paintings of the Cuzco School.

Regarding its construction, there is much controversy with the date of initiation of construction, and some indicate that its construction lasted more than 50 years, precisely because of the lack of funding for its completion. However, in the arch of one of the side doors is inscribed the year 1974 as the date on which the Cathedral would have finished construction.

Also, it is said that those who built the temple were the men miners, as well as the villagers between adults and children who helped with the chopping of the stones and that in the chopped stones put the initial of their name, showing the support of the parishioners to build the religious temple.

Main features

The Cathedral of Puno is the clear sample of colonial architecture and presents several representations of both European and Andean, merging the two cultures.

Architecture of the Cathedral of Puno

Regarding the architecture of the Cathedral of Puno, it is made of carved stones, with an "Andean baroque" style, decorated with human figures, local flowers and mermaids playing the charango.

This mixture or fusion of mestizo baroque style was made between the Europeans and the Andean culture in order to familiarize the villagers with the figures and bring them closer to the Catholic Church and evangelize them.

In its interior are buried important characters and characters of the Catholic Church as bishops, the main altar is made of marble with a silver frontal, also this two miraculous characters the Lord of the Bullet and the Virgin of the Remedies, as well as paintings of the Cuzco School of Painting of the eighteenth century.

Important information about the Cathedral of Puno

Take into account the information provided below, to make your itinerary according to the time of view, location and what to see in the Cathedral of Puno.

Visiting hours

To visit the Cathedral of Puno, you can do it all week, but at different times:

- From Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM until 12:00 noon and in the afternoon from 15: 00 hours until 18:00 hours.

- On Saturdays you can visit from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and in the afternoon from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

- Sundays only from 8:00 AM until 12:00 noon and in the afternoon from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM.

Entrance fee

The entrance fee to the Cathedral of Puno is free and free, so you can do it as many times as you want and know more in detail the paintings that it presents.

Location

The Cathedral Basilica of San Carlos de Borromeo or better known as the Cathedral of Puno, is located in front of the Plaza de Armas of Puno, in the Jiron Ayacucho 416, in the Region of Puno, Peru being one of the main architectural samples of the colonial era.

How to get to the Cathedral of Puno?

To get to the Cathedral of Puno you only have to walk a few steps from the historic center of the city, if you are located far from the city center take a taxi and take you to the Cathedral itself.

Also, you can know through a tour of Puno that will allow you to know other attractive places in the city.

What to see in the Cathedral of Puno?

The Cathedral of Puno has many things to see, for example it does not allow to understand the meanings that are represented inside the cathedral or to know more about the art that is represented inside.

Inside the Cathedral

Inside you can appreciate the countless paintings of the Cuzco School and two important and representative images for the parishioners: the Lord of the Bullet and the Virgin of the Remedies.

Appreciating the Baroque style

The baroque style is fused with the European and Andean style, therefore, you will see carved images of pumas, birds, flowers and mermaids playing a musical instrument, which hints at the presence of Andean artists who participated in its creation.

Sculpture and art in painting

Among his art we appreciate paintings representative of the Cusco School, the European models were adapted to the Andean reality and represented in the Cathedral of Puno.

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