the largest cathedral in the azores had to be reborn twice
It's the cathedral of the archipelago. The Diocese of Angra covers all nine Azores islands and has its cathedral here, in the historic centre of Angra, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Out front, two tall towers with pyramidal spires clad in tiles, linked by a pediment with a central clock.
Construction began in 1570, over an earlier church of São Salvador from the late 15th century. It was built in Mannerist style, in the island's basalt stone, with white facades setting off the dark masonry. The work dragged on for 48 years, with an interruption during the dynastic crisis, and was completed in 1618.
Two blows in quick succession nearly destroyed it. On 1 January 1980, the Terceira earthquake damaged it severely. On 5 July 1983, during restoration work, one of the towers collapsed. On 25 September of the same year, a fire destroyed what remained: gilded woodwork, organs, the coffered ceiling. The reconstruction followed the original Mannerist design and the cathedral was reopened on 3 November 1985.
Inside, three naves divided by columns, with a wooden ceiling. The chancel has an ambulatory with Ionic columns of colossal order, an unusual solution for the 16th century. From the pre-fire cathedral, pieces survived that are now in the Núcleo Museológico de Arte Sacra next door, including the pontificalia given by D. João V, jacaranda furniture and the nativity scene attributed to Machado de Castro. The current organ was installed in 1993. A few metres away is the Paço Episcopal and around it the historic centre of Angra, which survived intact.
what you'll find inside
- the two Mannerist towers with pyramidal spires clad in tiles
- three naves divided by columns, with a wooden ceiling rebuilt after the 1983 fire
- the chancel with an ambulatory and Ionic columns of colossal order
- the Núcleo Museológico de Arte Sacra, with pieces saved from the fire: the pontificalia of D. João V, jacaranda furniture, the nativity scene attributed to Machado de Castro
- the pipe organ installed in 1993, part of the post-fire reconstruction
