ANTIGUO SAN ISIDRO

"In the town of San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, to twenty-nine days the month of September 1895, being the His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, The President Dr. Jose E Uriburu, Governor of the Province Doctor Guillermo Udaondo, Party City Mayor Don Pedro Becco and Parish Priest Prebistero Francisco Alberti, was taken to the Blessing and placement of the foundation stone of the new Temple of San Isidro Labrador "
"This stone is granite feet long by seventy-five centimeters wide and fifty inches tall with a cavity in the center containing a lead box where this record is deposited.
This temple is built at the expense of neighbors in the San Isidro I is located on land owned by the Church and in the same place excistia the original parish church.

The first place of worship that existed in the area was an adobe hut with thatched roof, of which there are only vague references. It would have been erected around 1694 by Domingo de Acassuso.
On 14 October 1706 the same Acassuso created here Chaplaincy in honor of San Isidro Labrador, donating to do a fraction of land of about 260 meters of frontage on the river for 5,000 m. background. This date is considered the founding of this town and city.
A first chapel of bricks and roof tiles, meager proportions, was inaugurated on May 27, 1708. Thereafter the rural population living in the place was usual priestly assistance in the person of Fr.. Fernando Ruiz Corredor, who lived on a ranch.
A few years later the chapel became sacristy of a larger temple. After several attempts in the walls and ceilings collapsed, was inaugurated on April 24, 1720.
On 23 October 1730 the Ecclesiastical Cabildo of Buenos Aires transformed in parish seat. It lasted until 1895, but it was necessary to demolish it because his calamitous state threatened collapse.
On October 6, 1895 the foundation stone of the present church was laid. On 14 May 1898 it held the first Mass, and terminated the works and consecrating the October 20, 1906.
It occupies an area of 1,300 square meters, is 60 m. long and a width of 18.50 m., which cruises reaches 29 m. The interior height is 19 m. and its tower reaches 68.65 m.
Were architects of this Gothic temple Jacques Dunant and Charles Paquin, Swiss French first and second. Both had studied in Paris. Paquin died in Buenos Aires in January 1898 and ended only Dunant work. Biasca Pedro and his sons were the builders.
A Central Committee, with advice from the engineer Santiago Brian, directed the work and Damas was responsible for raising the necessary funds. Their names perpetuated in a bronze plaque.
At the top of the tower there are six bells; two of smaller size were placed in 1902, one strikes the hours and the other is currently inactive. The pastor Agustín Allievi (1912-1933) acquired four other larger, made in London by Gillet and Johnston house, with a total weight of 5,000 kilos, the largest of 1,800 k., With less than 800 k. They were blessed on December 8, 1923, installed the February 5, 1924 and thrown into the great feasts flight.
Just below the tower holds a clock of four spheres placed in 1902. The mechanism is the original, must be wound every week, works with counterweights and kept in perfect condition.
On June 8, 1957, at the local Diocese created, this church became a cathedral and October 10, 1963 was declared "National Historic Landmark".
 
The Gothic style emerged in the late eighteenth century and was used until the early twentieth. He resumed Gothic forms used in Europe between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries, but with modern materials and techniques. It is characterized by its slender lines pointing skyward, as if inviting to lift our eyes to God. The solid walls are replaced by windows that create a conducive atmosphere inside the sentence. The floor of this temple has a Latin cross on three naves and a circular apse. On the back of the rectory in the same style is attached.
Decades later a basement, which was then transformed into parish hall under the atrium was built beside the river. In 1965 he added the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and some units to the rectory. In the recent restoration efforts were made that the added parts are visually differentiated by distinct or different treatment of the original materials.
The roofs were of slate, fragile and brittle material, the break occurred frequent leaks inside and structurally damaged the building. The church and rectory was changed by one of copper in 1952, the tower of metal shingles in 1992.
In 1965 many of the exterior ornamental parts had fallen and other threatened do, so all were eliminated, removing much of its beauty. In restoring more than 400 items, reconstructed from old photographs, thus recovering the original forms were replaced. Some fit in the palm of a hand, others weigh over 3,000 kilos.
It circulate freely around the Cathedral and admire the many details that make it one of the most beautiful in the country, remembering that beauty is one of the attributes of the Creator and that traces of it can be found in all worth cosas.l enter the Cathedral you can appreciate the beauty and grandeur of its forms, highlighted by the recent restoration. To fully enjoy it is essential to note that the architecture is designed to help all faith.
The cross-shaped temple praying identifies people with Christ who offered to the Father. The interior height invited to ascend to God. The stained glass create a climate conducive to prayer and its images lead us to want to share heaven with Jesus, the Virgin and the saints (to better understand its meaning recommend the brochure said vitraux).
In the restoration was intended to facilitate the participation of the faithful in liturgical functions. Therefore the central altar relocated, renewed lighting, sound, etc.
In the Cathedral you can buy brochures explaining in detail the various elements: stained glass, images, amoblamento, architectural details, etc.