Various References in Latin American Architecture: Mexico's Eighteenth-Century Architecture The Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico in Mexico City, constructed by Claudio de Arciniega in the 16th century, is classical in design, with remarkable bits of flamboyant baroque embellishment affixed to the surface. It is regarded as one of the best examples of Spanish colonial architecture in America.
The city's nineteenth-century public buildings are mostly neoclassical in style. They include government offices, schools, and churches. The most important church is San Cristobal de las Casas, built in 1876-1891 to replace an earlier 17th-century building that had been destroyed by fire. It has a tall bell tower and a large interior dome decorated with gold leaf.
In addition to these landmarks, there are also many small houses with ornamental balconies and windows designed by Mexican artists who were hired for their talent rather than from any governmental scheme. These houses can be found all over the city but especially in the central neighborhood of Coyoacán.
They were built between the years 1800 and 1920 for upper-class Mexicans who could no longer afford to hire Italian or French architects to design their homes. Instead, they hired local architects who were skilled at making decorative elements for other people's houses. These men often took their ideas about how a house should look from drawings provided by foreign builders or even from photographs.
The Metropolitan Cathedral, or Catedral Metropolitana, is one of Mexico City's most stunning churches and took more than 150 years to build. While the outside of this 17th-century building is stunning, the interior is much more so. Inside, visitors may view a collection of artworks going back to the colonial era. There are also several chapels that contain some remarkable paintings.
The Cathedral was built between 1644 and 1700 after being commissioned by King Charles I. It was designed by Italian architects who had worked on the Palace of Madrid and is considered one of the first examples of Neoclassical architecture in America. The exterior is made of volcanic rock but the inside is painted.
It takes about an hour to see the entire church including taking time to stop and smell the flowers. A guide is provided by the priests who can answer any questions you may have.
This is one of Mexico City's top attractions and contains many unique features not found anywhere else in the city. Visitors will feel like they have gone back in time when visiting the cathedral. This is recommended for anyone interested in history or architecture.
Metropolitan Cathedral Given that it is the oldest and largest in Mexico, the massive Metropolitan Cathedral is clearly one of Mexico's and Latin America's most famous structures. Its prominent location, looming above the capital's zocalo, gives it the ideal starting point for our tour of Mexico City's most iconic structures.
The cathedral was built between 1571 and 1616 after being commissioned by King Philip II of Spain. It was designed by Spanish architects Juan de Herrera and Diego de Siloe, with contributions from others including Hernando de Soto. The cathedral's huge size can be understood when you consider that when it was completed, Mexico had no written language and only a few hundred thousand people. Now with nearly two million residents, it still serves as the country's main place of worship.
In addition to being a church, the cathedral is also considered a national monument. Highlights inside the cathedral include the tomb of its founder, Emperor Charles V, the altar that was transported here from Spain, and many other pieces of art. There are also several museums inside the cathedral itself including the Museo de Arte Moderno which contains a large collection of modern art.
Outside the cathedral, you will see many other famous buildings dating back to the 17th century when Mexico City was growing rapidly. These include the Palace of Cortez, the University of Mexico, and the National Palace.
The Metropolitan Church (or, in full, The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven) is not just one of Mexico's most prized architectural treasures, but also Latin America's largest and oldest cathedral. Constructed between 1671 and 1751 in Baroque style, it is also considered one of the first examples of modern architecture in the New World.
The church was built to replace an earlier structure that had been destroyed by fire. Its construction was financed by donations from merchants who had business with the Spanish Empire and who wanted a church that was worthy of its status as a metropolitan cathedral: the seat of the Archbishop of Mexico. It remains today one of the most important churches in New Spain and the center of Catholic worship in the country.
The original plan called for a simple rectangular building with a single nave and no towers, but the growing population of Mexico City demanded more space so the architects were forced to expand the project. The current appearance of the cathedral dates from 1877 when French architect Charles Sanson completed the main facade. Before then, the building had two facades that were quite different: the original one was Gothic while the new one was Renaissance inspired.
Sanson was hired by the bishop because he knew him from when they both worked on another project in France: the Basilique du Notre-Dame de Paris.
The cathedral's floor layout is shaped like a Latin cross. The church is oriented north-south, with the main facade on the south side of the structure, which features three entrances and a gated atrium. The main front has a relief depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, to whom this cathedral (as well as the majority of those in Mexico) is dedicated. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with bright colors and contains many paintings, statues, and other decorative elements.
The first written record of the existence of this cathedral in Mexico City is dated 1585. It was then called "Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe", but it is known today that this name was given only later, after the discovery of La Purísima Concepción, a statue of the Virgin Mary held by the cathedral since 1728. This event made the city's name synonymous with Mary throughout most of Spanish America.
During the Mexican War of Independence, the cathedral was the site of major battles between insurgents and government troops. In 1821, after years of fighting, warring parties agreed to build a new capital for Mexico out in the desert near present-day Mexico City. The cathedral's role in this settlement process is not clear, but it probably served as a place where treaties were signed and governments met.
Once again, the cathedral's status as a religious building was put to use during the French invasion of Mexico in 1867.
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