Cathedral of San Cristóbal

The Cathedral of San Cristóbal, dedicated to St. Christopher, stands beside the Plaza Juan Maldonado in the heart of the old city. Completed in 1621, it was rebuilt and expanded over the centuries in a blend of neo-colonial and baroque styles that gives it an imposing, somewhat severe character.

The interior is cool and dark after the Andean sun outside, with stained glass windows telling the story of the city's founding and Bolívar's passage through during the independence wars. The cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of San Cristóbal, created in 1922, and remains the spiritual center of Táchira life.

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A story
The stained glass windows inside commemorate Simón Bolívar's visit to the city in 1813, during the independence campaign. Táchira was an important base for the patriot forces, and the city's Andean location made it a natural staging point for movements between Venezuela and New Granada (Colombia).