Visiting The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
No visit to Mexico City is complete without seeing the Metropolitan Cathedral. It is one of the largest houses of worship in the world and has survived the city's tumultuous history, from the fall of the Aztec Empire, through colonialism and independence, and still remains one of the most important landmarks in the city today.
The Basics
The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral
Plaza de la Constitución S/N
Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06000
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 5510 0440
The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the Americas, so it is definitely worth a visit. Built upon sacred Aztec ground, this is Mexico City's most important religious site, which says a lot since this is a highly Catholic area. This Roman Catholic church was build over a period of 250 years, so it is not only a current house of worship, but also an architectural and historical marvel.
Architecture
The cathedral is built in the old baroque style and spares no extravagance. Construction began in the late 1500s, so many aspects of the cathedral are gothic as well, and the design began to shift towards the baroque style as time went on. The two bell towers, which house 25 bells, were not added until the 17th century, along with some of the cathedral's other defining features, including its incredible facade. The huge structure has very complicated and intricate design, including five naves and 14 chapels, each adorned with different murals by Spanish painter Bartolome Esteban Murillo. There are also three separate entrances to the cathedral. The entrances are framed by statues of various saints sculpted by Manuel Tolsá. All in all, there is plenty for art enthusiasts and historians to learn and discover on a visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral. It is also fun to compare the building to its counterparts in Europe, like Notre Dame in Paris.
Related: Best Architecture Tours Of Mexico City
How To Get There
The Metropolitan Cathedral sits on the north side of Zocalo, the main city square. This location means that the cathedral is easy to get to from basically anywhere downtown. There are multiple public transit stops nearby and all cab drivers and locals will be familiar with this location. Plus, there are plenty of other sites to see in the immediate area, particularly the National Palace, which is also located on Zocalo. Mexico City Center is clearly the most important neighborhood in the city. Here, the cathedral sits across from the country's seat of government, where Mexico has been run for hundreds of years. The area is also home to a thriving business center with some of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. Juxtaposed to these modern buildings, the cathedral looks even more decadent.
Staying Nearby
Hampton Inn & Suites Mexico City – Centro Historico
Calle 5 de Febrero No. 24
Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06060
Ciudad de México, D.F., Mexico
+52 55 8000 5000
hamptoninn3.hilton.com
Stay conveniently close to the cathedral by staying at the Hampton Inn. Hampton Inn locations all around North America are known for their budget-friendly prices while still providing a high level of service and comfort. The Centro Historico location is also perfect because it is conveniently located within walking distance to many important landmarks including the National Palace and Paseo De La Reforma. And, as always, this Hampton Inn provides a free hot breakfast which is a great way to quickly conquer a meal before a long day of exploring Mexico City's historical treasures surrounding Zocalo.
Related: Best Family-Friendly Hotels In Mexico City
Cameron Bruns is the founder of BostonGreenBlog.com and co-author of Just Us Gals Boston. She lives in Boston's North End, where her goal is to promote ethical, stylish, and sustainable lifestyle choices to all Boston residents. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.