Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Oranjestad (must see)
The Pro Cathedral of Saint Francis of Assisi stands as the main Roman Catholic church on the island. Built in 1919, the church is a cornerstone of Oranjestad's cultural and architectural heritage. The church's tower, for a considerable period, served as a prominent reference point for sailors, being the highest structure in the area.
The current structure is the fifth Saint Francis Church built on this location, reflecting a journey of resilience and continuity. The first Saint Francis Church, constructed between 1809 and 1813, had walls of plaited branches and a roof of cornstalks, collapsing during a rainstorm in 1828. The second Saint Francis Church, consecrated in 1828, faced a similar fate, collapsing before its official consecration. The surviving parts were swiftly rebuilt.
The third Saint Francis Church, with the foundation stone laid on April 22, 1864, collapsed before consecration, leading to a partial reconstruction of the surviving elements. The fourth SaintFrancis Church, consecrated on May 1st, 1871, shared design similarities with Saint Anne's Church in Noord, both being creations of the priest Stephanus van de Pavert.
The Saint Francis Church is part of the Franciscan complex, which includes an accompanying rectory.
The current structure is the fifth Saint Francis Church built on this location, reflecting a journey of resilience and continuity. The first Saint Francis Church, constructed between 1809 and 1813, had walls of plaited branches and a roof of cornstalks, collapsing during a rainstorm in 1828. The second Saint Francis Church, consecrated in 1828, faced a similar fate, collapsing before its official consecration. The surviving parts were swiftly rebuilt.
The third Saint Francis Church, with the foundation stone laid on April 22, 1864, collapsed before consecration, leading to a partial reconstruction of the surviving elements. The fourth SaintFrancis Church, consecrated on May 1st, 1871, shared design similarities with Saint Anne's Church in Noord, both being creations of the priest Stephanus van de Pavert.
The Saint Francis Church is part of the Franciscan complex, which includes an accompanying rectory.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Oranjestad. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Saint Francis of Assisi Church on Map
Sight Name: Saint Francis of Assisi Church
Sight Location: Oranjestad, Aruba (See walking tours in Oranjestad)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Oranjestad, Aruba (See walking tours in Oranjestad)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Oranjestad, Aruba
Create Your Own Walk in Oranjestad
Creating your own self-guided walk in Oranjestad is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Oranjestad Introduction Walking Tour
Perched along the Dutch Caribbean Sea shore lies the picturesque capital of Aruba, Oranjestad. The locals still habitually refer to it as "Playa".
European settlers arrived on the island around 1754, establishing plantations along the coast. Urban development began around 1795-1796 as trade restrictions eased. Jewish settlers engaged in discreet smuggling from around 1796 chose Aruba... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
European settlers arrived on the island around 1754, establishing plantations along the coast. Urban development began around 1795-1796 as trade restrictions eased. Jewish settlers engaged in discreet smuggling from around 1796 chose Aruba... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles