Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral

The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is the principal Roman Catholic church in Mexico’s capital, sited on the city’s central Zócalo. Construction occurred over several centuries, giving the building a blend of architectural styles.

Visitors see a large cathedral interior with richly decorated altars, colonial-era paintings, elaborate carved choir stalls and prominent bell towers. The cathedral’s scale-spanning a long façade facing the Zócalo and an expansive interior-makes it a focal point for religious ceremonies and civic events.

Built by Spanish colonial authorities using stones from the destroyed Aztec precinct, the cathedral’s construction began in the late 1500s and continued into the early 1800s, resulting in an architectural mix from Renaissance to Baroque and Neoclassical. Over centuries it has undergone repairs and restorations related to structural settling, earthquakes and conservation of artworks.

Sitting on the northern edge of Mexico City’s main plaza, the cathedral occupies a central position in the historic downtown area, adjacent to archaeological remains of the Templo Mayor and surrounded by government buildings and museums.

• Construction period: Construction began in the late 16th century and continued intermittently into the early 19th century, with the commonly cited construction span from 1573 until about 1813.
• Location and significance: Located on the Zócalo (Plaza de la Constitución), it is one of the largest and most significant cathedrals in the Americas and a landmark of Mexico City's historic center.

What to See #

• Main nave and altar: The main nave and altar area feature a mixture of Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical elements and house the cathedral's principal liturgical spaces used since colonial times.
• Bell towers: The twin bell towers form the cathedral's highest external features and contain historic bells that have marked civic and religious events for centuries.
• Side chapels and altars: Several chapels and side altars, including the Baroque "Altar de los Reyes," contain notable colonial-era paintings and carved altarpieces important to the building's artistic program.