Metropolitan Cathedral, Managua

The Managua Cathedral was severely damaged during the devastating 1972 earthquake. It took various organizations almost twenty years to raise the money to build this new 30,600 square foot Cathedral, designed by renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.

The design is capped by a pyramidal array of sixty three domes that become the building‘s most important identifying and unifying element. These domes are illuminated to help convey the spirituality of the monumental interior space. Uplights are concealed in each of the four center columns and in other strategic locations. The limited locations helped reduce the cost, and also resulted in striking backlit crucifix shapes at the columns.

The circular chapel glows from within and is also bathed in sunlight entering through the hundreds of small circular portholes, adding to the spiritual experience.