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Church · Maracaibo, Zulia
Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul
The Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, on Plaza Bolívar, the historic heart of Maracaibo. It houses the Black Christ, a crucifix that, according to tradition, survived a fire in 1600.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul
Maracaibo Cathedral, dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, stands on the east side of Plaza Bolívar. The parish church has existed since the city’s early days; around 1650 it had three naves, a tower, and a wooden roof with tiles. In 1666 the French privateer known as El Olonés sacked the temple and used it as a barracks. The building was rebuilt in the early 19th century with a classical façade.
In a niche of the north nave is the Holy Relic, the Black Christ, a wooden crucifix of Spanish origin. It belonged to the church of Gibraltar, a settlement on the lake’s southern shore. Tradition holds that in an indigenous attack on the settlement in 1600 the burning roof fell over the image, which blackened but did not burn. The crucifix was taken to Maracaibo and is still venerated today.
Rafael Urdaneta, the independence hero born in the city, was baptized in the cathedral in 1788, and Simón Bolívar attended a Te Deum there in 1823 to give thanks for the victory in the naval battle on the lake.
Plaza Bolívar around it concentrates other historic buildings: the Government Palace, called Palacio de las Águilas for the two condors on its cornice, the Casa de la Capitulación, where the Spaniards signed the 1823 surrender, and the Teatro Baralt.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About half an hour; an hour if you include Plaza Bolívar and the façades of the surrounding buildings.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon; the cathedral usually opens in two periods, closing in the early afternoon. Confirm opening hours before you go.
How to get there
It is on Plaza Bolívar, at Avenida 4 (Obispo Lasso) with Calle 95, in the historic center. From the northern part of the city it’s a few minutes by taxi.
Tip
Leave the cathedral via Plaza Bolívar and view the façade of the Casa de la Capitulación and the Palacio de las Águilas before heading to the Teatro Baralt at the northwest corner of the square.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul
What is the Black Christ of Maracaibo?
A wooden crucifix of Spanish origin that, according to tradition, darkened in a fire in 1600 in the settlement of Gibraltar without burning. It is kept in the cathedral in a niche on the north nave.
Where is Maracaibo cathedral located?
On the east side of Plaza Bolívar in the historic center, at Avenida 4 and Calle 95.
Does Maracaibo cathedral open in the afternoon?
It usually opens in the morning and reopens late afternoon. Confirm opening hours before you go.