Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Basilica with a metal structure and a recognizable dome in the west of the Center.
810 Arce Street, San Salvador.
About Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Temple with a metal structure and distinctive dome, a landmark in the western part of the Historic Center of San Salvador.
Details
Hours
Mon-Sun 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Best time to visit
Monday to Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Highlight
Withstood all the earthquakes
Brief History
The first stone was laid on January 1, 1901, and the construction extended until 1913, driven by Bishop Antonio Adolfo Pérez y Aguilar with the initial design by Pascasio González. What makes it unique is the material: a structure of wood and perforated metal sheets brought from Europe, a technique that was used at the time specifically to withstand earthquakes and fires. It worked. It still stands after the earthquakes of 1917 and 2001. It served as a provisional seat for the archbishopric and as an interim cathedral. Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero used it for his homilies in the seventies, and here his remains were laid in repose before the funeral in Plaza Barrios.
Photo Gallery
Location & Map
810 Arce Street, San Salvador.
Visit Tips
It is outside the tourist core of the Center: it's a few blocks to the west.
If you come in August, this is where the descent of the Divine Savior of the World begins.
It's worth noting the metal structure: it's not stone, it's European perforated sheet metal.
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