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The Metropolitan Cathedral is located in Second Avenue/Street 2-4, facing the Central Park, it is the most important church in Costa Rica. It was rebuilt in 1871, after the original was destroyed in an earthquake. Designed by Eusebio Rodriguez, it has a neoclassic, stone structure and it's distinguished by a small corrugated dome, cased windows and doric columnes. The interior is expansive, with elegantly painted columns made of wood, tiled floor and plenty of reliefs. The high altar is under an ornate cupola ceiling. It is distinguished by a small dome and stain glass windows. A side chapel, 'Capilla del Santísimo Sacramento', is decorated with carved painted flowers and leaves. It is placed on the north side of the cathedral, and it has the biggest number of paintings in the church, but unfortunately it's almost always closed.  Lately, the cathedral was put to detailed renovation works, during which all damages to the structure were repaired.  In 1983, the cathedral was visited by Pope John Paul II, the event is commemorated by a marble plate. Also, the first two archbishops of Costa Rica and Tomas Guardia, former President of the Republic, are buried in the basement.