Deterioration of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin: auction for its restoration is being organized

Inhabitants of the capital of Antioquia have denounced the deplorable state of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin, whose deterioration is a source of dismay among local residents.

In order to raise funds for the restoration of this iconic architectural monument, built at the beginning of the 20th century, a group of businessmen is promoting a dinner – art auction, scheduled for the end of this month.

For some, the state of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin is attributed to factors that go beyond the passage of time, and point out that in recent years there have been several actions that threaten the conservation of this jewel of the city of eternal spring.

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What is happening to the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin?

This architectural icon, with its impressive façade and centuries-old history, is crying out for restoration due to the deteriorating state of its structure, caused by a series of actions that wear down the adobe bricks, characteristic of the façade and a fundamental part of the structure.

In many cases, the adobe bricks are used as a material for drug use, say the locals, who also denounce the theft of elements of the construction, such as the metal covering of the original entrance doors and copper details.

Such deterioration of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin, besides compromising the integrity of the building, represents a risk for the cultural heritage of the city of the eternal spring.

For their part, the city authorities point out that repairing the damage to the cathedral represents a considerable economic effort, since it is a construction of great historical and cultural importance.

Art Auction Dinner: a strategy to save the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellín

In order to raise funds to restore the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica, considered an architectural heritage of the capital of Antioquia, the Hummer House auction house will hold an art dinner auction on Thursday, August 31.

The event will take place at the Club Campestre Medellín, Gran Salón (Calle 16 A Sur #34-950), at 7:00 p.m. where attendees can enjoy a unique evening, participate in the auction to acquire works of art by various artists and enjoy a dinner in an artistic atmosphere.

Among the works to be auctioned, attendees will find a selection of works by renowned artists such as Manzur, Botero, Grau, Gustavo Vélez, Zapata, Luis Fernando Peláez, Germán Londoño, Álvaro Marín, Ana Isabel Díez, Ana Mercedes Hoyos, Beatriz González, Débora Arango, Joaquín Restrepo and Beatriz Correa, among other great representatives of Colombian art.

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Where to buy tickets for the art dinner auction?

The contribution to the art dinner auction for the rescue and revival of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica is COP $200,000 per person. Tickets are available through the following telephone numbers: 300 2969100 and 300 8721198.

The organizers of the auction, Hammer House, emphasize that every contribution is crucial for the preservation of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin, and highlights that its current state of deterioration is a reminder of the danger that one of the most important buildings in the country is in.

History of the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellín

Built between 1874 and 1931, the imposing Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellín was erected by the French architect Charles Émile Carré (1863-1909), to whom we owe its neo-Romanesque style.

It is a vast construction of solid brick, located in the Bolivar Park of Medellin, in which about 1,120,000 bricks joined with mortar were used.

Its historical value and its outstanding status in national architecture led it to be declared a National Monument of Colombia on March 12, 1982.

The cathedral, which was known as the Villanueva Cathedral, is the main temple of the Archdiocese of Medellín. It is also the seat of the Archbishop and has held the liturgical title of Minor Basilica since 1948, when Pope Pius XII issued the mention on June 12 of that same year.

Undoubtedly, the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Medellin is a construction of high cultural interest at the national level, one of the main reasons that motivated entrepreneurs of all kinds to join efforts to safeguard the building from the evident state of deterioration.

The organizers of the event, aimed at raising funds for its restoration, hope that strategies such as the art auction dinner will raise sufficient resources to halt the deterioration of the imposing building.

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