Salta Cathedral

The Catedral Basílica de Salta stands on the north side of Plaza 9 de Julio and is the most prominent building in the colonial centre. The current structure dates from the early 19th century, though the site has held a church since the city's founding in 1582. The salmon-pink neoclassical facade, with its twin towers and prominent dome, is among the most photographed sights in the Argentine north-west.

Inside, the cathedral houses the images of the Lord of the Miracle and the Virgin of the Miracle — patron saints of Salta whose procession on 15 September is the biggest event on the city's calendar. The interior is ornate but not overwhelming, with good gold-leaf altarwork and a cool, quiet atmosphere even when the plaza outside is busy.

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The cathedral's salmon-pink facade has been repainted in that shade since the 19th century — the colour was chosen partly to stand out against the deep blue Andean sky, and partly because the local clay used in traditional render naturally produced warm pinkish tones. The paired towers, added in the 1880s, were the tallest structures in Salta for decades.

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