San Fernando Cathedral, also called the Cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria and is a cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church located in downtown San Antonio, Texas, USA, facing the city’s Main Plaza. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and the seat of its archbishop. Its dome serves as San Antonio‘s cultural and geographical center. The cathedral is also known as the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria y Guadalupe and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is notable as one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States.
The original church of San Fernando was built between 1738 and 1750. Today, the walls of that church form the cathedral’s sanctuary, which gives rise to its claim as the oldest cathedral in the State of Texas. The church was named for Ferdinand III of Castile, who ruled in the 13th century. The baptismal font, believed to be a gift from Charles III, who became King of Spain in 1759, is the oldest liturgical furnishing in the cathedral. The cathedral was built by settlers from the Canary Islands; for this reason, the interior is an image of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patroness of the Canary Islands.
In 1831, James Bowie married Ursula de Veramendi in San Fernando. In 1836, the cathedral, still a parish church, played a role in the Battle of the Alamo when Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna hoisted a flag of “no quarter” from the church’s tower, marking the beginning of the siege. In 1868, under the direction of architect Francois P. Giraud, the cathedral was considerably enlarged in the Gothic style, the addition forming the existing nave. The carved stone Stations of the Cross were added in 1874. The striking stained glass windows were added in 1920. EZ Bed Bug Exterminator San Antonio
The cathedral remains at the heart of the Catholic religious life of San Antonio, and this includes involvement in annual events such as Fiesta Week. Over 5,000 participate at weekend Masses each week of the year. Over 900 baptisms, 100 weddings, 100 funerals, and countless other services and special events are performed each year, most notably in the staging of the Good Friday Passion Play, which attracts thousands of visitors.
Restaurants and Pubs
- Bourbon Street Seafood Kitchen Downtown is located at 103 9th St, San Antonio, TX
- Guillermo’s is located at 618 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, TX
- Boxcar Bar is located at 125 Lamar St Ste 103, San Antonio, TX
Check out other attractions like Six Flags Fiesta Texas