How did the facade of Buenos Aires Cathedral resemble the Parthenon?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The facade of the Buenos Aires Cathedral, designed by the French architect Prosper Catelin in 1822, resembles the Parthenon because it was constructed as a Neoclassical variation of the ancient Greek temple's facade.1

This design choice was part of a broader movement in the newly independent republics of Latin America to move away from the pervasive Baroque architecture associated with 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. By adopting Neoclassical models, architects sought to transform colonial cities into modern, cosmopolitan centers, often looking toward France and Italy for inspiration.1