St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo

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St. Elizabeth's Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral on Independence Avenue in Malabo, the former capital of Equatorial Guinea. It is the biggest Christian church in the country and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Malabo. It is named after Saint Elizabeth of Hungary.

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At a glance

Country: Equatorial Guinea
Location: Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Built: 1916
Height: 40 m
Type: Religious building

Quick answers

Where is St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo?

St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo is in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

When was St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo built?

St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo was built in 1916.

How tall is St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo?

St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo is about 40 m tall.

A neo-Gothic cathedral from 1916 overlooking the bay of Malabo; its twin 40-metre spires are the symbol of the city.

Its front is flanked by two towers that rise 40 metres, and inside is a nave with two aisles. The neo-Gothic style, which copies the pointed arches and tall spires of medieval churches, makes the twin spires the symbol of the city. Work began in 1897, and the cathedral opened in 1916, during the time Equatorial Guinea was a Spanish colony. In January 2020, a fire seriously damaged it while restoration was under way.

How it was built

Building started in 1897 using money from members of the parish, trading companies and the Spanish government, because the island was then a Spanish colony. The architect was Luis Segarra Llairadó. The cathedral was inaugurated in 1916. Its neo-Gothic style, with a strong, tall front and two towers, stood out against the harbour in the bay of Malabo, and it quickly became one of the city's best-known buildings.

The 2020 fire

On 16 January 2020 a fire broke out in the cathedral while workers were carrying out restoration. It caused serious damage. The building remains important to local people as a place of worship and as a symbol of Malabo. Rebuilding historic churches takes careful planning and a lot of money, so people who love the cathedral hope its twin spires will long stand over the bay.