heaven spanish los largest cathedral americas seat mexico situated atop sacred near mayor northern plaza downtown mexico_city cathedral built sections original church constructed soon spanish conquest eventually replacing entirely spanish architect planned construction drawing inspiration gothic spain cathedral contain flanked columns statues bell towers contain total bells adjacent cathedral contains serves register large ornate choir cathedral fourteen cathedral sixteen open public chapel dedicated different saint saints sponsored religious guild contain ornate paintings furniture sculptures cathedral home largest 18th century organs americas underneath cathedral holds remains centuries cathedral suffered damage fire destroyed significant cathedral interior restoration work followed uncovered number important documents artwork previously hidden solid foundation built cathedral soft clay soil built threat structural integrity dropping water tables accelerated sinking caused structure added list endangered sites reconstruction work beginning 1990s stabilized cathedral removed endangered list spanish conquest decided build church site mayor city consolidate spanish power newly conquered domain stones destroyed temple god war principal deity build church ordered original church construction returned exploring honduras architect director project bishop new world established promoted church completion located northeast portion cathedral separated columns central roof intricate carvings main door probably renaissance style choir area seats wood crafted church soon considered inadequate growing importance capital ecclesiastical authorities ordered creation new cathedral agreement reached cost new cathedral shared spanish crown indians direct authority archbishop cathedral begun built existing church cathedral built house basic functions original church demolished enable construction continue construction cathedral constructed period centuries design mixture architectural styles colonial period renaissance baroque neo classic initial plans new cathedral drawn work foundation began decision cathedral face south instead east year construction commenced working gothic designs models created inspired found spanish cities muddy site work foundation continued past work walls work cathedral began cathedral walls reached half final height construction interior current cathedral began mass conducted church finally torn work interrupted flooding metres depth parts city damaged especially main plaza damage site abandoned new cathedral project begun hills area west despite problems project continued current location direction interior finished consecrated cathedral lacked bell towers complete facade features beginning 18th century charge finishing work cathedral work bell towers putting roofs shape bells death live cathedral completed finished cathedral adding central facade statues faith hope charity facade work major construction cathedral appearance finished basic look cathedral today cathedral faces south approximately metres wide metres long consists bell towers central dome main arches columns inside cathedral large sixteen choir area corridor room cathedral approximately windows exterior main facade cathedral faces south main portal centered main facade highest cathedral statues saint peter paul stand columns portal james depicted secondary doorway center doorway high relief cathedral dedicated image flanked images saint andrew coat arms mexico doorway eagle wings clock tower portal statues representing faith hope charity created sculptor west facade constructed rebuilt section portal images west portal high depicting jesus handing keys heaven saint peter east facade similar west facade east portal ship carrying helm title relief ship church sailing seas northern facade built 16th century renaissance style oldest cathedral named architect monastery spain eastern western older rest building level columns associated baroque period high cathedral inspired work flemish painter bell towers bell towers work artist capped bell shaped roofs covered white stone charge cathedral construction half 18th century died unexpectedly built notable buildings mexico_city hired finish cathedral point cathedral years making added neo classic structure housing clock statues theological virtues faith hope charity high surrounding building dome rises cathedral bells eighteen hang east bell tower seven west tower largest bell named santa maria weighs kilograms major bells named maria weighs kilograms named harsh tone maria placed largest bell placed later statues west tower work represent vii francis statues east tower depict rose mary mother jesus philip jesus rome bell died accident tried bells standing bell swung hit head killing instantly bell punished removing following years bell known punished mute bell october time capsule found inside stone ball base cross southern bell tower cathedral placed supposedly protect building harm lead box filled religious artifacts coins hidden hollow stone ball ball marked date building stone laid new time capsule placed stone ball closed situated right main cathedral spanish built height baroque period house archives archbishop functioned continues function place receive register church built cathedral site exact location unknown construction cathedral housed lady 18th century decided build structure separate connected main cathedral constructed reddish volcanic rock white stone shape greek cross southern facade faces connected main cathedral interiors wing separate uses west wing north main altar main entrance area separated inside corner walls stone white stone covers walls floors frames doors windows crossing structure octagonal dome framed arches form curved meet dome principal altar ornate style crafted indigenous artist inaugurated exterior baroque styled entirely adorned decorations shaped niche shelves floating carvings fruits created shape ritual offerings blood christ church floral elements roses types flowers found including indigenous main outside entrances south facing facing east street southern façade richly decorated east façade theme images saints founded religious orders scenes bible found including lion eagle coat arms mexico east facade ambitious contains figures images construction dates phases inscribed interior located central nave aspect interior seen entering cathedral work spanish architect represents use column inverted triangle shaped americas stories altar came states condemned brought altar ask forgiveness world execution second relates painter despite author works cathedral accused according story jail painted beautiful image virgin mary crime altar damaged fire january completely restored altar kings altar kings work style begun cedar finished debuting located cathedral choir altar metres wide metres tall metres deep size depth gave rise nickname golden cave takes statues royalty form decoration oldest work style mexico taking years complete left right female royal saints scotland constantinople hungary portugal empress middle altar kings martyr henry_ii holy roman emperor poland france kings oil painting shows jesus king kings portion features painting queen flanked oval carrying infant jesus hand holy spirit inspiring write figures jesus mary sculptures angels crowned image god father altar restoration door opens oldest cathedral mixture renaissance gothic styles walls hold large painted triumph church triumphant virgin apocalypse virgin apocalypse depicts vision painted additional painting attributed hangs north wall niche holds statue christ image sculpted ivory mural depicts lady house virgin image appears massive flooding removed better protect cabinet west wall virgin apocalypse painting held golden cups trimmed precious stones wooden floor platform perimeter replaced stone cathedral sixteen assigned religious guild dedicated saint contain seven created later eastern western sides cathedral open public fourteen east west listed seven east nave listed north south seven west nave chapel lady chapel lady spanish las built half 17th century originally served medieval style chapel vault relatively simple narrow contains oval painting young 16th century painting attributed flemish painter painting lady mount painting supper chapel painting lady chapel saint chapel saint spanish san originally built annex vault contains plaster casts representing faith hope charity justice considered basic values catholic religion built converted chapel door reworked style chapel conception chapel conception spanish built lack columns likely dates 18th century altar framed instead columns painting conception altar surrounded paintings relating passion christ saints chapel contains canvas painted painted right dedicated conception donated peter paul chapel holds remains north mexico chapel lady chapel lady spanish built cathedral long time site powerful decorated 19th century neo classic style architect director main dedicated virgin sides dedicated john baptist respectively chapel lady antigua chapel lady antigua spanish antigua sponsored built brotherhood musicians promoted devotion virgin contains painting virgin copy found copy brought merchant paintings birth virgin presentation painted chapel saint peter chapel saint peter spanish san built contains highly decorated baroque 17th century altar dedicated sculpture altar surrounded early 17th century paintings relating life painted right dedicated holy family paintings florence called holy family workshop birth left main dedicated jesus image appears chapel window includes paintings sheets metal depict scenes birth jesus oil paintings illustrate scenes life semi circular painting coronation mary works created 17th century chapel home child jesus figure brought mexico spain sculpted 16th century spain purchased cathedral way veracruz pirates attacked ship sacked image large ransom paid today image chapel san traditionally image petitioned seeking release restrictions traps especially financial problems drug addiction alcoholism cult considered inactive particular image comeback petition family member abducted held ransom chapel christ chapel christ spanish del santo built designed ultra baroque details difficult poorly lit interior originally known christ came image christ supposedly donated cathedral emperor left main altar eventually changed 17th century ornamentation main carvings rich foliage small heads columns main portion small sculptures angels secondary portion hold sculptures saints framing main body 17th century finished sculptures angels contains small 17th paintings saints paintings hidden compartments contain numerous left main painting dated surrounding altar series paintings canvas depicting passion christ painted 17th century right hand wall altar dedicated virgin confidence decorated numerous away columns pieces chapel holy angels chapel holy angels spanish los finished baroque decorated columns dedicated depicted medieval knight contains large main smaller decorated main dedicated seven represented sculptures surrounding images mary christ scene holy spirit god father left hand similar design dedicated guardian angel sculpture surrounded pictures arranged hierarchy left scene shows released prison right later knocked horse painted right hand dedicated guardian angel mexico chapel saints spanish san built saints commonly invoked time suffered diseases brought main baroque probably built 17th century oil paintings wood contain scenes physician saints attributed painter second half 17th century chapel contains small came church west mexico_city dedicated birth jesus chapel chapel saint joseph spanish san built contains image lord image christ likely 16th century inspired time indigenous form beans style containing statue patron saint main baroque 18th century belonged church lady altar contains statues containing contains paintings chapel lady chapel lady spanish originally built honor workers built cathedral contains baroque main supported small angels uphold base main body dedicated image appears center surrounding 16th century paintings depict scenes life christ chapel saint chapel saint spanish san known chapel lord safe expeditions spanish del del built guild donated images conception saint chapel dedicated chapel 19th century image lord good sending placed named reported having prayers answered quickly image thought 16th century sent gift chapel lady chapel lady spanish los known chapel lord supper spanish santa built originally dedicated supper painting event kept later neo classical style added main contains image virgin sculpted wood painted request emperor mexico left hand wall ladder leads series hold remains past mexico largest contains remains archbishop mexico chapel saint philip jesus chapel saint philip jesus spanish san completed earliest stages construction cathedral dedicated philip jesus martyr japan chapel topped gothic style dome baroque 17th century statue saint located large niche altar left dedicated considered protector mexico_city right holds remains briefly ruled mexico 19th century chapel font believed philip jesus baptised organs cathedral dozen organs course history earliest mentioned report written king spain details survive earliest organs builders names begin appear end sixteenth century earliest disposition survives organ built large organ built madrid installed mexico spain completed incorporating elements 17th century organ largest 18th century organs americas situated walls choir east gospel west organs damaged fire restored organs fallen disrepair gospel organ restored restoration organ completed organs playable choir choir priest choral group sings located central nave main door high altar built fashion like spanish built sides contain saints cedar native wood called surrounds choir china placed cathedral located floor cathedral beneath altar kings entrance cathedral guarded large wooden door descends winding yellow staircase past inner entrance style stone skull incorporated offering base archbishop mexico considered indians protecting abuses spanish natural sized sculpture archbishop atop walls dozens bronze plaques indicate locations remains mexico_city including cardinal floor covered small marble covering containing remains people cathedral contains religious figures buried including restoration sinking ground seismic activity area effect cathedral construction current appearance years required simply lay foundation built recognized danger constructing huge monument soft soil political reasons cathedral built remains pre hispanic structures leading uneven foundation beginning january fire caused electrical short circuit caused extensive damage cathedral structure decoration damaged including loss paintings holy face choir section lost seats painting stored books cathedral organs severely damaged partial melting pipes paintings damaged parts cathedral fire authorities recorded damage try restore damaged heated discussions ensued historians architects investigations moving eliminating choir area ecclesiastical authorities initiated demolition choir area authorization federal government stopped government saved named director project restore cathedral original condition restoration work focused repairing damage archived records photographs included work deteriorating foundation uneven sinking ground problems towers forgiveness kings subject extensive cleaning work replace lost portions paintings added escape egypt organs dismantled pipes inner workings sent netherlands repair cases restored mexican work lasting reconstruction choir area began materials existed fire addition statues towers received damage city pollution taken created replace damage repaired interesting discoveries restoration work occurred 1970s early 1980s paintings found rescued including works juan inside organs copy nomination governor general found lastly wall central arch cathedral found burial place governor veracruz late 20th century work cathedral rest city sinking day built fact city million people drawing water underground sources caused water tables drop sinking accelerate half 20th century sections complex cathedral sinking different rates bell towers dangerously despite work 1970s reason cathedral included world monuments watch major restoration foundation work began 1990s stabilize building engineers excavated cathedral dug shafts cathedral placed shafts concrete soft ground solid base rest efforts stopped sinking complex corrected towers ensured cathedral sink uniformly cultural value cathedral focus mexican cultural identity testament colonial history researcher rivera reported cathedral built site sacred stones temples lay claim land people supposedly laid stone original church personally important religious center exclusively prominent families second mexican empire emperor empress charlotte belgium later known crowned cathedral magnificent arrival head city reign located time focus social cultural activities occurred 20th 21st centuries cathedral closed years president attempted enforce mexico anti religious laws pope closed church ordering priests cease public religious duties mexican churches mexican government came terms major renovations performed cathedral reopened cathedral scene protests church church including protest women church women wear mini skirts provocative clothing avoid rape protest mexico cathedral protest social issues bells express opposition supreme_court mexico_city abortion probably recent event occurred november attacked cathedral protesters stormed sunday mass chanting knocking caused church officials close lock cathedral number days cathedral reopened new security measures bag searches place gallery
Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral