Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico

Picture of Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Cathedral located besides the Zocalo or Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico. The first church on the present site of the cathedral was built on orders of Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes on the spot of the destroyed Aztec temple. The construction of the present cathedral began about 1573 after prior church was demolished. Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral was consecrated in 1667 but the construction was not finished until 1813 when 64 meter high towers with 18 bells and central dome were completed.

Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is built in Baroque, Neoclassic, and Mexican churrigueresque styles and is the largest and the oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere. Inside of the cathedral can be found numerous art works from the colonial era: paintings, altarpieces and statues.

Heavy rainfall in 1989 revealed severe cracks on the cathedral what caused a great deal of concern. Another problem also represents the fact that the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral like many other buildings in Mexico City is gradually sinking into the ground. The cathedral went through extensive reconstruction works in the 1990's.

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