Celebration of Santa Ana cathedral

Today is the 100th anniversary of the start of construction of the cathedral in Santa Ana, El Salvador. Salvador Canjura describes the background of the church on his blog. In the early 20th century, Santa Ana experienced a bonanza of investment from some of the richest families in the country, who were making a fortune in this coffee-rich section of the country. The gothic-style church, which was dedicated as a cathedral in 1913, is one of the visible reminders of Santa Ana's former prosperity.

El Diario de Hoy describes a restoration project which has been proceeding since 1993, funded only by donations. $1.5 million are still needed to complete the project. The church was also damaged in the 2001 earthquakes and not all of the damages have yet been repaired.