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Cathedral · Cidade do México, Cidade do México
Catedral Metropolitana
The largest cathedral in the Americas, built from 1573 to 1813, with Baroque and Neoclassical façades, gilded altarpieces and two towers overlooking the Zócalo.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Catedral Metropolitana
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary is the seat of the Archdiocese of Mexico and occupies the north side of the Zócalo. It was built in stages over nearly 250 years, from 1573 to 1813, and therefore mixes styles: Gothic in the plan, Renaissance and Baroque in the interior, and Neoclassical in the towers and the dome, completed by Manuel Tolsá.
The interior has five naves and dozens of side chapels. The Altar of the Kings, at the back, is an 18th-century gilded Baroque altarpiece by Jerónimo de Balbás. The choir, in the middle of the central nave, has two organs and an iron screen brought from Macau. Beside the cathedral, the Sagrario Metropolitano has a churrigueresque stone façade.
The cathedral was built on the clay soil of the former lake, and the sinking ground tilted parts of the building. A stabilization project in the 1990s corrected the structure, and there is a pendulum on the nave floor that shows the tilt.
The towers have 25 bells and, at certain times, the cathedral offers guided climbs to the bell tower with views of the Zócalo and the Templo Mayor. As an active church, there are Masses throughout the day.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
45 minutes to an hour; longer if there is a climb to the bell tower.
Best time
In the morning, before tour groups, or mid-afternoon. During Masses circulation in the naves is limited.
How to get there
On the north side of the Zócalo. Metro line 2, Zócalo/Tenochtitlan station.
Tip
Look for the pendulum hanging in the middle of the nave: it shows how much the building has tilted due to ground subsidence.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Catedral Metropolitana
How long did it take to build Mexico City's Cathedral?
Nearly 250 years: construction began in 1573 and finished in 1813. That is why the cathedral combines styles from different periods, from Gothic to Neoclassical.
Can you climb the towers of the Metropolitan Cathedral?
At certain times the cathedral offers guided climbs to the bell tower, with views over the Zócalo. Availability varies; ask at the entrance.
Is Mexico City's Cathedral sinking?
The soil of the former lakebed has subsided over the centuries and tilted parts of the building. A stabilization project in the 1990s corrected the problem, and the structure is monitored with instruments.