Frommer's Review
The Metropolitan Cathedral stretches almost an entire city block, and its intricate interior handiwork warrants a quick duck inside. This is the fifth cathedral to have been erected at this site because of seismic damage. The cathedral began construction in 1748 following Bavarian Jesuit designs (you can admire their handiwork in the church's brawny cypress doors and silver frontal), but was completed in 1780 by the Italian architect Joaquín Toesca. In 2005 and 2006, the main altar of the cathedral was completely remodeled; in the process, workers discovered the tomb of the lost body of Diego Portales, one of the founding fathers of Chile. Dozens of other Chilean luminaries and archbishops are buried here, too. The Cathedral's Museum of Sacred Art highlights more of the Jesuit's silver handiwork, as well as religious paintings and furniture, though if you're visiting the Iglesia San Francisco's museum, you might want to skip this, although the antiquated courtyard where the museum can be found takes you back in time. The museum is reached through the bookstore neighboring the cathedral.
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