One of the truly unique churches in Bolivia, the sprawling Copacabana Cathedral is definitely worth a visit. With large round domes, commanding pillars, and mudéjar (Moorish) style design, it is unlikely you will find anything like this in the rest of Bolivia. From the outside the cathedral is a dominating, whitewashed stone sanctuary, complete with a walled courtyard and chapels in each corner. Inside the cathedral are a long row of wooden pews, a ceiling painted in deep reds, blues and yellows, and the miraculous Virgin of Copacabana. The ornately-robed, Andrean-looking Virgin is held in a small chapel in the back of the sanctuary, where it is serves as revered icon for the community.

If you’re in the mood, baptisms at the Copacabana Cathedral cost $3.50 (25 Bs.) and marriages $17 (120 Bs.). The cathedral is open daily, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

There is an attached museum with paintings and other religious paraphernalia called the Museo Pinacoteca Tito Yupanqui, open from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This museum has a gift shop which sells postcards, books (in Aymara and Spanish), posters and religious relics.

Historical Building

By Margaret Rode

A self-professed city girl, sassy staff writer Margaret Rode hails from Chicago where she received Bachelor degrees in English Literature and Spanish...

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