Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral Size report
Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in Mexico and one of the most famous cathedrals in America. It is located on the north side of Zocalo Square in Mexico City. The cathedral was built in 1573 and was officially completed after 1823. It lasted 250 years and can be called the most architectural history in America.
The cathedral combines a variety of different architectural art styles. Artists of different art genres are constantly processing and remodeled over the centuries. The facade is a group of beautiful carvings made by the outstanding Mexican architect and neoclassical artist Manuel Tolsa. The work reflects Catholic ideals: faith, hope, and mercy.
The chapel's main entrance, which is side by side with the front of the cathedral, is a precious Baroque building. The walls are covered with delicate and luxurious sculptures, and there are also vivid statues and various decorative patterns on the pilasters. The pardon altar in the cathedral is the place most visited by believers. Many people pray to purify their sins so they can enter heaven after death. The following article will introduce more about its architectural features.
Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral Size And Structure
Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral is a huge building made of basalt and gray sandy stone. The stone walls are thick and reinforced with thick iron chains to increase earthquake resistance. It consists of two bell towers, a central dome, and three main portals. The cathedral has a traditional Latin cross layout with five naves and 51 vaults.
The center nave is longitudinally rectangular, 110 meters long from north to south, and 55 meters wide from east to west. A typical Renaissance circular vault covers the large altar in the depth of the nave. There are many small altars and seven chapels in the side naves, which form a cruciform cross with the nave. Each has a giant stone cross on the top of the two towers. There is a 13-meter-long and 7-meter-high iron fence around the cathedral's main entrance.
Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral Size
Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral faces south and measures approximately 59 meters wide by 128 meters long, with a height of 67 meters to the tip of the towers. The pair of towers is a neoclassical building with a total of 25 bells; the largest bell, called the Bell of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, was cast in 1792, with a bottom diameter of 3 meters, a height of 5 meters, and a weight of about 12 tons. The chime of the bell can spread up to 10 kilometers away.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Architectural Style | Gothic, Plateresque, Baroque, Neoclassical |
| Length | 128 m |
| Width | 59 m |
| Number of Towers | 2 |
| Tower Height | 67 m |
| Number of Bells | 25 |
Final Words
The Metropolitan Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the most important buildings in the historic center of Mexico City. In addition to its religious significance, it summarizes five centuries of Mexican art and architecture. Its majestic size, fascinating history, and beautiful art and architecture make it one of the finest buildings in the country. Fourteen of the cathedral's sixteen chapels are open to the public. Each chapel is dedicated to a different saint or saints, and a religious guild sponsored each. The chapels contain ornate altars, altarpieces, retablos, paintings, furniture, and sculptures. The cathedral is also the home to two of the largest 18th-century organs in the Americas.
