Catedral Santa María la Menor

The Catedral Santa María la Menor is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, begun in 1514 and completed around 1541. Its exterior is a striking mix of Gothic and baroque styles — the facade is ornate, carved from the same pale coral stone that gives much of the Zona Colonial its warm colour. The interior is cool and dark, with massive pillars supporting a vaulted ceiling and a collection of papal portraits and colonial-era religious art.

The cathedral stands on the north side of Parque Colón, the main square of the Zona Colonial, which makes it easy to combine with a walk through the surrounding streets. The bronze statue of Columbus in the park, pointing towards the sea, has become a contested symbol — the base was vandalized during protests over his legacy, and the debate about what to do with it continues.

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The cathedral was begun in 1514 and took nearly two decades to complete. For most of the 16th century, the remains of Christopher Columbus were kept here — a matter still in dispute, since Seville also claims to hold the genuine remains. DNA testing in 2006 suggested the Seville remains are more likely to be the real thing, but Santo Domingo keeps the vault.

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