Mexico has an enviable historical and architectural legacy. Not in vain, it was the seventh most visited country in the world in 2019. Among those treasures scattered throughout the country, its cathedrals shine with their own light: baroque, neoclassical, neo-Byzantine… There are all styles, periods and tastes , but which are the most beautiful?
Civitatis, the leading company in the sale of guided tours and excursions in Spanish around the world, has prepared a list of the 10 most beautiful cathedrals in Mexico to try to answer this question as complicated as it is subjective.
1. Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City
On the ruins of the old Temple of the Sun rises the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City. This construction, located in the historic center of the city, is considered one of the most important buildings of Hispanic American art. In the year 1524, Hernán Cortés laid the first stone in the place where the Aztec temple of Tenochtitlán was located. Today, this building is one of the greatest works of colonial architecture and the pinnacle of baroque in the country, as well as being the largest cathedral in all of Mexico.
2. Guadalajara Cathedral
Located in the center of Guadalajara is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an icon of the city. It was erected in 1561 by order of King Philip II of Spain and, since then, it has undergone various modifications due to earthquakes. In fact, the current towers date from the 19th century, as the original ones collapsed in an earthquake in 1818. Today it is possible to admire a mixture of styles that make it one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Mexico.
3. Matehuala Cathedral
This singular cathedral is one of the busiest tourist places in the city of Matehuala, in San Luis Potosí. Its imposing blue rock walls are reminiscent of the church of Saint Joseph Brotteaux in Lyon (France). This is so because the French temple served as a model to build the new cathedral of Matehuala in the mid-19th century. Apart from this, it stands out for its Neo-Gothic and Neo-Byzantine style, very different from the architecture that we can find in other Mexican cities such as San Cristóbal de las Casas or San Francisco de Campeche.
4. Morelia Cathedral
This architectural ensemble of pink quarry has become a symbol of Morelia, as well as one of the tallest cathedrals on the continent: its towers exceed 65 meters in height. From there you can appreciate the best views of this World Heritage city.
5. Merida Cathedral
The Cathedral of Mérida or Yucatán is not only one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Mexico, it is also the first cathedral built in all of America after Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. The oldest cathedral in Mexico is no stranger to legends and myths that survive over the years: a hidden cenote under the cathedral? A complex system of secret passages? You have to visit Merida to discover it.
6. Monterrey Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Monterrey began to be built in 1626. Its work took many years, which is why architectural styles such as neoclassical and baroque converge in it. This last style can be appreciated especially in its elegant façade, in which its color and the different heights that compose it also attract attention.
7. Cathedral of Puebla
Known as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Puebla Cathedral is one of the most significant buildings that make up the city’s skyline. Its imposing side towers with more than 69 meters high make it the highest of the Mexican cathedrals. From these, it is possible to enjoy the magnificent views of the city of Puebla and even the volcanoes that surround it.
8. Oaxaca Cathedral
The most important temple in the city of Oaxaca is inspired for its construction by the cathedrals of Mexico City and Puebla. Due to earthquakes, it was remodeled and expanded several times until the 20th century. Its baroque-style doorway framed between the two towers is striking, as is its extremely interesting collection of paintings and relics inside.
9. Cuernavaca Cathedral
Another religious architecture that deserves to be among the most beautiful cathedrals in Mexico is the Cathedral of Cuernavaca, capital of Morelos. And it is that, in addition to its beauty, this cathedral is part of the group of First 16th century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It was founded by the first Franciscan friars who arrived in Mexico and, therefore, it is considered one of the oldest cathedrals in all of the Americas.
10. Zacatecas Cathedral
If you had to choose a cathedral that represents the Mexican baroque style, it would undoubtedly be the Cathedral of Zacatecas. This beautiful temple, and specifically its façade, stands out among the buildings of the city. Built in pink quarry in the mid-18th century, its main door shows the style known as Churrigueresque or ultra-Baroque, which was in full swing during its construction. The cover contrasts with the interior, in a more austere neoclassical style.
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