What Is the Architectural History of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City?
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City--known in Spanish as Catedral Metropolitana de la Asunción de María--is the largest and oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere. Built over a period of two and a half centuries, the cathedral is an amalgamation of styles.
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Gothic Style
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The designer of the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral was Claudio de Arciniega (c. 1520 to 1593). He incorporated into the overall design features of Gothic architecture, a style of 12th century origins.
Renaissance Style
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Older parts of the cathedral, namely the northern facade and the main door, were built in the Renaissance style, the dominant architectural style in the mid-16th century. The northern facade is named after architect Juan de Herrera (1530 to 1593), who was responsible for the El Escorial monastery in Spain.
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Baroque Style
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The cathedral's Metropolitan Tabernacle and some of its columns are inspired by the Baroque period of architecture, a style popular in the 1600s. The Metropolitan Tabernacle was built by architect Lorenzo Rodríguez between 1749 and 1760 to house the archives and vestments of the archbishop.
Churrigueresque Style
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The cathedral's Altar of the Kings was possibly done in the Churrigueresque style. Churrigueresque is a Spanish offshoot of the Baroque style that emerged in the late 1600s and was used until the mid-1700s.
Today
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The Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City is prominently located in the city's huge plaza, the Zócalo. It is the seat of Mexico's Roman Catholic Archdiocese.
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