Five Centuries of Mexican Art and History

Explore the history and artistry of Latin America’s largest cathedral, built atop Aztec ruins and surviving centuries of shifting ground in Mexico City.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 5, 2026, 9:36 AM EST

Source: tripsavvy

The Foundations of New Spain: From Aztec Temple to Cathedral

Following the fall of Tenochtitlan in the early 16th century, the Spanish crown prioritized the establishment of a grand religious center. Conquistador Hernán Cortés initially commissioned a modest Moorish-style church, built between 1524 and 1532 using stones reclaimed from destroyed Aztec pyramids. However, by the 1570s, architect Claudio de Arciniega began work on the current monumental structure, drawing inspiration from the Gothic and Renaissance cathedrals of Spain. The project faced centuries of delays, including a massive flood in 1629, with the main structure eventually reaching completion in 1667, while decorative elements and the iconic bell towers were added well into the 19th century.

Architectural Grandeur and the Churrigueresque Legacy

The cathedral is a sprawling masterpiece of stylistic fusion, measuring 350 feet in length and 200 feet in width. Its exterior showcases a transition from Renaissance foundations to Baroque and Neoclassical finishes. A standout feature is the adjacent Sagrario Metropolitano, built in the 18th century to house the archiepiscopal archives. The Sagrario is world-renowned for its hyper-decorative "Churrigueresque" or Mexican Baroque facade, characterized by its "estípite" columns and intricate stone carvings. Inside, the cathedral is organized into five naves with 14 chapels, housing some of the most significant colonial-era art in the Americas, including works by Juan Correa and Cristóbal de Villalpando.

The Engineering Crisis: A Sinking Heritage

A defining characteristic of the cathedral is its precarious physical state. Built upon the soft, volcanic clay of a former lakebed, the massive structure—constructed from a mix of heavy limestone and lighter volcanic tezontle—is sinking at an uneven rate. Visitors will notice a distinct tilt in the flooring, a result of the building dropping over 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) in some sections over the centuries. A specialized pendulum hanging from the central nave serves as a silent witness to this movement, tracking the building’s slow descent into the ground. Modern engineering efforts, including the injection of specialized grouts to stabilize the foundation, remain a constant necessity to prevent structural collapse.