THE CATHEDRAL. 
The Cathedral is on Empedrado street at the corner of Ignacio. It 
is commonly known to visitors in Havana as the Columbus Cathedral; 
but the name is La Catedral de la Virgen Maria de la Concepcion—Cathedral 
of the Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception. The edifice, which 
is of the Hispano-American style, with two towers and a dome, is built 
of the native limestone, which is yellowish-white when quarried, but 
soon darkens and grows dingy, and the surface disintegrating gives an 
appearance of great antiquity. The Cathedral was built by the Jesuits 
two centuries ago, in 1704. It occupies the site of an older church. 
Two of the bells'in the tower are dated 1664 and 1698 respectively. The 
entrance through a gate at the right of the chapel admits to the triangu¬ 
lar courtyard. On the right of this is the ecclesiastical courtroom, the 
walls of which are hung with portraits of Bishops of the Island. Be¬ 
yond are the cloisters and the patio of the Theological Seminary of 
San Carlos. The door on the left opens into the robing room, where 
may be shown the rich vestments of the clergy, magnificent examples of 
embroidery in gold and silver. On the walls are some very old paint¬ 
ings. From this room steps lead to the high altar and the chancel. The 
interior walls are finished in dark marbles; the columns are of highly 
polished mahogany with gilt-bronzed capitals; the choir stalls are of 
mahogany, beautifully carved. The high altar is of Carrara marble. 
38 
