San José Cathedral and Sanctuary of Madre María

In practically all the cities and towns of the world, we can find religious structures that regardless of the god to which they are directed become an important part of the local cultures and are usually tourist attractions in those areas. In this country, the Catholic religion is the one that prevails and in that sense the churches with that theme are the ones that are mostly seen in the main streets and squares, in fact, it is normal to see the government authorities making renovations whenever necessary and it is that in reality these structures have great value for the population practicing Catholicism.

Between Bolivar Avenue and Mariño Street in the city of Maracay is the San José Cathedral. This is the most important catholic structure in the state of Aragua and therefore is where most of the activities related to religion take place. The access is quite comfortable since it is located in a very central place, so getting there will not be a problem, besides, everybody knows where the cathedral is.

As you can see in the photos, it is not a very large or architecturally striking structure, but I think it has a very nice colonial style façade (or so I believe). The tower where the clock and the bell tower are located looks quite nice and the structure in general looks very well cared for, in fact, as far as painting is concerned it does not seem to have any problems.

At the front, there are three large wooden doors, but only the center one is usually open, in fact, I don't recall ever seeing the other two doors open. Further up, there are three windows which seem to require maintenance, but these windows are not the same as the one in the center stands out from the others.

On the other hand, we can observe in the superior part 4 religious sculptures which are inside small spaces or arches, these have details in golden color.

Inside, we can observe that the main hall has two series of columns and arches that give it a certain aspect of majesty. Practically all the space is covered with large benches where the parishioners sit to enjoy the masses and events.

The ceiling is dark wood and looks in excellent condition; also, the lamps are in a style that I am not very familiar with, but they look very nice as they seem to have dozens of small crystals that produce a very distinguished effect.

As you could see, the San José Cathedral may look like many churches in the world since it does not have an extravagant or modern architecture, but it is a very special place for the city since most of the religious activities are concentrated there, besides, it is a reference and meeting point for the locals, everyone knows where this place that was built more than 300 years ago is located.

On the other hand, very close to the San José Cathedral, is the Sanctuary of Mother Mary. As far as this structure is concerned, it can be clearly observed that it has a much more modern construction, but at the same time it is simple. Perhaps the most striking feature is the glass-covered bridge that connects the sanctuary with a religious educational institution.

The inside is air conditioned, something that is difficult to see in other places of this style. The living room is spacious and filled with long wooden benches which are in excellent condition. The stained glass windows provide a very special ambiance when they are touched by sunlight. In addition, there is a large balcony that directly overlooks the altar.

One of the most striking things about this place is that, inside a glass coffin, lies the body of who is said to be the very mother Mary (not the one in the bible obviously), I understand that she died many years ago, but is observed in a good state of preservation.

Once again, it was a pleasure to share with you these two places that are very well known in the city of Maracay. I hope to return soon with more structures that are of interest to this community. Greetings!