The restoration of the National Sanctuary Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre has entered its final stage, with the installation of the remaining stained glass windows, painting work, and the recovery of sculptures and other heritage pieces.
The Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba announced this Tuesday on Facebook that the final touches are being made to the outdoor areas and that the painting of the temple is nearly complete.
"The landscape is already looking quite different," noted the religious institution, comparing the current state of the sanctuary with the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa less than a year ago.
Specialists in stained glass from the Office of the Historian of Havana are currently working on the installation of the last restored pieces and supervising the correct installation of the protective glass.
Sculptors from the same institution are also preparing for the return of the marble angel, which was toppled by the hurricane and became one of the most striking and widely circulated images in the initial hours following the cyclone's passage.
The work includes their placement, various touch-ups, and the restoration of other marble and bronze pieces preserved in the sanctuary.
The workers themselves make touch-ups with specialized paint in both the interior and exterior areas of the temple, despite the intense heat recorded during the workdays.
All activities are supervised by the Investment Department of the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba, which has coordinated the various stages of rehabilitation of the country's main Marian sanctuary.
The process began after Hurricane Melissa severely damaged the Sanctuary of El Cobre during its passage through eastern Cuba in October 2025.
The cyclone affected over 80% of the stained glass windows, some of which were completely destroyed, and also caused damage to sculptures, windows, walls, and other areas of the property.
Among the most affected pieces was one of the marble angels that guarded the back entrance of the basilica. The sculpture fell from its pedestal and shattered, prompting specialists from the Office of the Historian of Havana to begin its reconstruction piece by piece.
The restoration of the angel, carried out with the participation of the sculptor José Duverger Aliaga, was completed in February. Now the specialists will proceed to return the piece to the sanctuary and make the necessary touch-ups.
The restoration of the stained glass windows began months earlier. Camagüeyan artists David and Damián Sánchez Prieto, from the Daluz Studio-Workshop, took on the reconstruction of several damaged pieces, while professionals from the Office of the Historian were responsible for other stained glass windows.
The upper stained glass windows were reinstalled in April, although pieces from the lower part of the temple were still outstanding. These last pieces are part of the work that is now nearing completion.
The restoration also included the carpentry, the second-floor ceiling, and the access points to the religious complex.
Young people from the Ugo Luisi Workshop School in Santiago de Cuba participated in the repair of damaged structures, while a company from Holguín worked on replacing wooden elements.
The main staircase regained its nighttime lighting in March, after its walls, lamps, and lighting fixtures were repaired.
Thus, one of the most beloved places in the Cuban collective imagination is regaining its usual state, its beauty, and its spiritual value after the severe damage caused by the hurricane.
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