Location São Tomé Denomination Roman Catholic Church | ||
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Similar São Sebastião Museum, Marco do Equador, Estádio Nacional 12 de Jul, Pico de São Tomé, Praia Jale | ||
The Our Lady of Grace Cathedral (Portuguese: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Graça) also called Cathedral of São Tomé, it is a Roman Catholic cathedral, located in the district of Água Grande in the city of São Tomé, capital of the African and island country of São Tomé and Príncipe, and that is the cathedral of the diocese São Tomé and Príncipe. The original church of Our Lady of Grace, probably dates from the fifteenth century and is in the People's Square, near the defense tower built between 1492 and 1493 by Captain Álvaro de Caminha.
In 1534 the city became a bishopric through the Bull "Aequum reputamus" of Pope Paul IV, who established the diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe (Diœcesis Sancti Thomæ in Insula) and elevated the church of Our Lady of Grace to the status of cathedral.
The building was renovated between 1576 and 1578, during the reign of King Sebastian of Portugal. In 1814 it was restored again at the initiative of the local population. The last modification was made in 1956 and significantly altered the main facade.