Overview:

is a basilica located in the small mountain town of El Cobre, near Santiago de Cuba. The basilica was built to house the Virgin of Charity, the patron saint of Cuba, who is also the patron saint of Hispanic Americans. It is a well-known pilgrimage site and houses one of the most important religious icons in the Caribbean. Each year, pilgrims come from across Cuba and the greater Caribbean to honor the patron saint. The basilica was built in the late 19th century and is a symbol of the Cuban people’s faith and devotion. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Cuba
Prominent Features:

1. Location: El Cobre Basilica located in Santiago de Cuba, a city located in southeastern Cuba on the coast of Caribbean Sea. 2. Magnificent Architecture: The majestic architecture of the church stands out with its golden domes and bell towers. The Basilica is wonderful combination of Baroque, Neoclassical and Gothic styles. 3. Ornamental Carvings: The entrance of the church has ornamental carvings which are some of the oldest of its kind in the entire nation. 4. Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity: The sanctuary of Cobre Basilica is dedicated to the Virgin of Charity of Cobre (La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre). It is considered as important spiritual center for the people of the country. 5. Pilgrimage Site: Every year in the month of forth September a pilgrimage is undertaken to 'Nuestra Señora de la Caridad' which is the popular name for El Cobre Basilica. Thousands of devotees from all corners of Cuba come to pay homage to Virgin of Charity of Cobre and offer prayers. This national monument of Cuba portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The El Cobre Basilica, also known as the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, is located in El Cobre, Cuba. The origin of El Cobre Basilica goes back to the colonial era, when a small chapel built in 1612 by Spanish miner Juan de los Reyes was dedicated to the local patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre. The chapel was consecrated by the Bishop of Santiago de Cuba in 1632. During the 19th century, the chapel was restored several times, and in 1929 it was again enlarged. In 1922, Pope Pius XI declared the Virgin of Charity the patroness of Cuba. Then in 1927 El Cobre Basilica was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XI. Over the years, various architectural accents were added to the basilica, such as two bell towers built in 1952 and the marble façade, built in the Baroque- Classical style, was added in 1972. The El Cobre Basilica is visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. A major attraction of the basilica is the series of 200 stars in the night sky, designed by noted Cuban artist Marcelo Pogolotti. The stars represent the most famous Marian apparitions in history. The basilica is the custodian of assorted relics and keepsakes of faith, including the cloth of the Holy Shroud, a piece of the True Cross, a fragment of the Nativity Manger, a fragment of the Veil of Veronica, and the hair of St. Anne and St. Joachim. In 2019, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre was declared a National Monument and Cultural Heritage Site of Cuba, in recognition of the important religious, historical, architectural and artistic values it represents. You must visit one of these historical places in Cuba on your Cuba tour

Interesting facts:

1. El Cobre Basilica is the most visited religious shrine in Cuba and among the most visited in the Caribbean. 2. In honor of the Virgin of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, the patron saint of Cuba, the El Cobre Basilica was built in 1916. 3. The original sculpture of the Virgin of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre is located within the basilica. 4. The basilica holds numerous revered religious artifacts, including the original statue and the "Three Gold Jars of Charity." 5. During the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro and Che Guevara made a pilgrimage to the El Cobre Basilica to ask for the Virgin’s protection. 6. Every July 16th, a large procession is made each year from El Cobre Basilica to Santiago de Cuba’s harbor, where the original statue of the Virgin of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre is blessed. 7. The El Cobre Basilica has a royal history. It was once the heart of a large copper mining barony and a property of Spanish royalty. Visit one of the famous monuments of Cuba with your friends and family.