The Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana) in Mexico City is the oldest and largest cathedral in all of Latin America. Begun in the late 16th century, the cathedral is a medley of styles and dominates the city's huge plaza, the Zócalo.

History of Metropolitan Cathedral

When Cortes and his Spanish missionaries converted the Aztec in the 16th century, they tore down their temples and used much of the stone to construct a church on the site. Nearly all of the stone from the nearby Templo Mayor was built into the cathedral.

The original Spanish church was torn down in 1628 while the present Metropolitan Cathedral was under construction. The towering cathedral that stands today, begun in 1567 and finished in 1788, is a blend of baroque, neoclassic, and Mexican churrigueresque architecture.

Over the centuries, the cathedral and the Sagrario (chapel) next to it have sunk into the soft lake bottom beneath. The base of the facade is far from level and straight, and when one considers theimmense weight of the towers —127,000 tons — it's no surprise. However, much to the credit of Mexico City and its preservation efforts, the Catedral Metropolitana came off the World Monuments Fund's list of 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2000, as a result of an extensive reconstruction of the building's foundation.

What to See at Metropolitan Cathedral

The exterior of the basilica is a medley of architectural styles. Inside, four identical domes are supported by rows of columns. There are 5 naves and 14 chapels, mostly designed in the ornate churrigueresque style (named for Spanish architect José Churriguera, who died in 1725). Like most Mexican churches, the cathedral is all but overwhelmed by innumerable paintings, altarpieces, and statues in full graphic color.

The Metropolitan Cathedral contains many prized works of art from the colonial era, in a variety of artistic styles. Jerónimo de Balbas built and carved the Altar de los Reyes (Altar of Kings) and the Altar del Perdón (Altar of Pardon) in 1737. Among the cathedral's other outstanding features are: the tomb of Agustín Iturbide (1838); a painting attributed to the Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo; and the fact that the stone holy-water fonts ring like metal when tapped with a coin.

Like many huge churches, the cathedral has catacombs underneath. In front of the cathedral you can find various crystals, gemstones, and herbs for sale, which are believed to provide special qualities of protection and cure from various afflictions.

The much older-looking church next to the cathedral is the chapel known as the Sagrario, another tour de force of Mexican baroque architecture built in the mid-1700s.

Festivals and Events

A sound-and-light show, "Voices of the Cathedral" leads visitors on a candlelit stroll through the cathedral accompanied by period music. Tickets are $25 and available through Ticketmaster (tel. 55/5325-9000). The schedule of English-language performances changes periodically (call 55/5512-7096 for details). Since the focus is choral music, most visitors are just as happy with the Spanish presentation. Each Wednesday, the Reforma newspaper publishes the dates for the next 3 months of presentations.

Quick Facts on Metropolitan Cathedral

Site Information
Names:	Catedral Metropolitana · Metropolitan Cathedral · Mexico City Cathedral
Country:	Mexico
Categories:	cathedrals
Status:	active
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:	19.434123° N, 99.133083° W
Address:	Mexico City, Mexico
Lodging:	View hotels near Metropolitan Cathedral

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

References

1. Frommer's Mexico 2006
2. Historic Centre of Mexico City - UNESCO World Heritage List

More Information

• Reviews of the Metropolitan Cathedral - TripAdvisor traveler reviews
• Photos of Metropolitan Cathedral - here on Sacred Destinations