Construction on the first cathedral in the New World began in 1514 under the direction of Diego Columbus. But it would take three more decades and several architects before the prominent Bastidas family would take stewardship of the building, putting up their own money to see development through to the end. In 1586, the English buccaneer Sir Frances Drake looted the church, destroying records and all indication of who might be buried in the chapels. One thing that is certain, however, is that Christopher Columbus is no longer buried here (if he ever was). His remains now reportedly rest on the east side of the Ozama River at a monument commemorating 500 years of Christianity in the Americas.
(Photos: Stephan Mallet)