17th July 2019: The Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City
The Metropolitan Cathedral, located in the heart of Mexico City, is a Catholic cathedral and one of the largest in the Americas. Its monumental structure measures approximately 59 meters in width, 128 meters in length, and 67 meters in height, featuring two bell towers, a central dome, sixteen chapels, and a sacristy. Construction began in 1573 and took nearly 250 years to complete. This extended building period resulted in a unique design that blends multiple architectural styles, including Renaissance, Baroque, Churrigueresque, and Neoclassical. Inside, the cathedral boasts lavish altars, the most notable being the “Altar of the Kings,” adorned with gold and so ornate that it is often called the “Golden Cave.” The cathedral was built on the site of the former Templo Mayor following Spain’s conquest of the Aztec Empire, symbolizing the power of the colonial era. In 1987, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its fusion of Aztec and Spanish colonial culture, ...