Last updated on May 20th, 2026
Tucson’s beautiful Saint Augustine Cathedral stands just outside Tucson’s downtown core. The exterior has a stunning Mexican baroque façade, complete with southwestern details. It is a 1928 remake of the original (unfinished) 1897 structure.
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But it was the adjoining plaza – a lonely concrete space wearing a bonnet of brilliantly colored flowers and butterflies – that really caught my eye.
This is the Cathedral’s Placita, a small plaza available to the public for events. While it includes kitchens and other facilities in the adjoining building, it is the flowery dome that catches the eye. Actually a band shell, its fantastic giant flowers (300 of them), leaves (1,000), butterflies (18), and birds are made of steel.
What a great spot for a Quinceañera! I can almost see the young ladies floating about in their frilly gowns, as bright and beautiful as the steel flowers and butterflies.
Old Town Tucson
Central Arizona 2014
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