| Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle | |
| Other Name: | Catedral Basílica de Santiago Apóstol |
| Location: | Tunja |
| Country: | Colombia |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic Church |
The Cathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle [1] (Spanish; Castilian: Catedral Basílica de Santiago Apóstol) also called Tunja Cathedral[2] It is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral of Colombia, which is enshrined under the patronage of St. James the Greater (Santiago Apóstol). The building is located on the eastern side of the Plaza de Bolivar in Tunja,[3] in the historic center of the city of Tunja (capital of the department of Boyacá) in the South American country of Colombia.[4]
The cathedral is the main church of the Archdiocese of Tunja and archbishopric, since his elevation to diocese by the Bull of pope Leo XIII called Infinitus amor and published on July 29, 1880.
Its construction was hired by Juan de Castellanos and Gonzálo Suárez Rendon to Pedro Gutiérrez, who began work in 1567. His style can be within the Isabeline style, although some later renovations have added neoclassical building elements; It has a single tower and its interior consists of three naves with side chapels. The exterior of Renaissance style was designed by Bartolomé Carrión in 1598.
The historical Tunja sector (including the cathedral) was declared a National Monument (Monumento Nacional) of Colombia by Law 163 of December 30, 1959.