CHURCHES

CATHEDRAL OF SALTA
On April 16th, 1582, Don Fernando de Lerma, founder of the city of Salta, chose the best lands for the most significant public buildings. The Santísimo Redentor Holy Redemption Main Church was as a result built of adobe brick walls and straw roofs on one of those lots a short time after the city's foundation.

From that first church there are no remains left, with the sole exception of the site, which was the same where the present Cathedral stands today. This construction is the fourth in a row built in the same place. The last one dates back to the year 1855 and was built on top of the remains of the original one.

The stone used as masonry was taken from the San Bernardo Mountain, while the Tipa tree and willow trunks used to construct arcs and scaffolds were brought from Motojoro and La Viña. The Italian masters Soldati, Giorgi and Righetti, who finished it in 1882, assumed project and construction of it, successively.

The building is composed of three wide naves and a noteworthy cross vault or transept. Above this appears the dome with a lantern. The facade and the towers that compose it give the church its character, using an Italian style both projected by the architect Luis Giorgi, who also planned the main altar.

The facade presents Corinthian style columns, balustrades and cornices, which marks a distinction from the upper part. On top of these balustrades emerge the twin towers and the central body. The inside decoration is mostly symmetric. Although poor materials where used, the overall effect is very rich, due to the gilded painting.

In the far end of the left nave the Capilla del Señor del Milagro Miraculous Lord Chapel is located, treasuring an image of Crucified Christ donated by Bishop Victoria, which was mysteriously found inside a box floating on the waters nearby the El Callao Port, in Peru, from where it was brought to Salta.

One century later this Christ became the protector of the city, mainly because, according with the popular hearsay, the image saved the city from been destsroyed by an earthquake, which occurred on September 16, 1692, during which the priest José Carrión had a revelation in a dream that only taking out the Christ on a procession would end the cataclysms.

From that day on, the "Fiesta del Milagro" or "the Miracle Festivity" takes place on every second week of September as a thanksgiving homage.

Later on, through a National decree given on September 19, 1918, the "Panteón de las Glorias del Norte" Pantheon to the Glorious Deeds of the Northern Campaign Memorial was build in the Cathedral. And from October 20th of that same year the remains of Generals Martín Miguel de Güemes and those of Rudendino Alvarado rest there.

The church is sited on Calle España 596 Street, facing the Plaza 9 de Julio Square. Is a National Historical Monument since July 14th, 1941.

SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH AND MONASTERY
When Don Fernando de Lerma distributed the lots of what was to be the centre of Salta, he did not forget conferring the Franciscan Fathers with a hectare for the construction of their church and convent. The prior of the order, Fray Juan Bartolomé de la Cruz was the recipient of the welcome present.

The first stage of the building ended in 1625. A second temple was built in 1674 to be destroyed by a fire on the middle of the 18th century. Later on, the building of a new church was started, under the orders of Fray Vicente Muñoz from Sevilla, who also built the magnificent dome of the Córdoba Cathedral and the Iglesia de San Francisco Church in Buenos Aires.

San Francisco was remodelled again in 1870 when Architect Luis Giorgi modified its front by erecting the tower that today crowns the temple, being the highest of its kind in South America due to its 53 ms hight.

In 1879 the main staircase of the Monastery was built, and in 1881 the church's old tower was demolished so that Master builder Francisco Righetti could construct a new one.

In the year 1909 the clock of the tower was installed and in 1915 came the time for the marble floor and electricity. It is held as a National Historical Monument since July 14th, 1941.

A very solemn entrance enhances the beauty of the atrium, while two lateral sideways connect them with the Caseros Street and with the Convent's cloister. The triple entrance to the atrium leads to a single richly proportioned nave, focusing on the lesser altar. The transept stands out, highlighted by the central dome.

It keeps an important library, where magnificent incunabula and rare antique editions are kept. The temple also has valuable pieces of art in its small museum, among which we could mention an image of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, a San Pedro de Alcántara and a painting depicting San Francisco de Asís (attributed by some to Pitti, and to Zurbarán by other experts).