Managua Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María
The main façade of the cathedral on Palm Sunday in 2017.
Managua Cathedral Location in Nicaragua
12°07′58″N 86°15′57″W / 12.132687°N 86.265853°W / 12.132687; -86.265853
Location	Managua
Country	Nicaragua
Denomination	Catholic Church
Website	Managua Cathedral Website
History
Status	Cathedral
Founded	1991
Founder(s)	Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo S.D.B.
Dedication	Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Consecrated	September 4, 1993
Past bishop(s)	Miguel Obando y Bravo S.D.B. (1993-2005)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Ricardo Legorreta
Architectural type	Cathedral
Style	Eclectic, Romanesque and Arabic
Completed	August, 1993 (present Cathedral)
Construction cost	USD 4.5 Million
Specifications
Number of domes	63
Administration
Province	Ecclesiastical Province of Nicaragua
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Managua
Clergy
Archbishop	Leopoldo José Cardinal Brenes
Rector	Pbro. Luis Alberto Herrera
Vicar(s)	Pbro. Silvio Josué Romero Pbro. Mario Guevara Pbro. Rodolfo López

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de la Inmaculada Concepción de María), referred to as the New Cathedral (La Nueva Catedral), is located in Managua, Nicaragua. It was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

History

The cathedral was built in 1991 to serve as a replacement for the Old Cathedral of Managua or St. James' Cathedral (Catedral de Santiago). The old cathedral was damaged and thought to be unrestoreable after a 1972 earthquake that destroyed 90% of the city.^[1]

The new cathedral was designed by the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. Construction began around August 1991, and the cathedral was inaugurated on September 4, 1993. The cost of the newly built cathedral was estimated at $4.5 million.^[2] The new cathedral has generated much controversy, particularly about its architectural style and finance.^[3] The costs were covered partially thanks to the help of American Tom Monaghan, owner of Domino's Pizza.^[4] Locals refer to it as La Chichona on account of the plethora of cupolas adorning it which resemble many chichas (Spanish: slang for "breasts").

A fire started by a Molotov cocktail damaged an image of Sangre de Cristo y el Santísimo in the cathedral on July 31, 2020. Neither of the two people in the cathedral at the time were injured.^[5]