Puebla Cathedral
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The Cathedral of Puebla or the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception ( Spanish Basílica Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción ) is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Puebla , capital of the Mexican state of the same name . The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles is consecrated to Mary under the invocation of the Immaculate Conception and also has the title of a minor basilica . The Herrera-style cathedral is protected as a historical monument and a central part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the old town of Puebla.
history
The decision to replace the existing cathedral with a new building was made in 1557, and construction began in November 1575 under the direction of the architects Francisco Becerra and Juan de Cigorondo. Construction was interrupted in 1626 and the design was modified by Juan Gómez de Trasmonte in 1634. Under the new bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza , construction work was resumed in 1640. When Palafox lost his fight against the Jesuits and the viceroy, he was transferred to the small diocese of Osma-Soria in Spain. Before that, he had the cathedral continued to be built with 1500 workers under the supervision of Pedro García Ferrer, so that the church consecration could take place on April 18, 1649, which was also his departure from the diocese. The completion then dragged on until 1690. Minor the title of Basilica in 1904 received the cathedral by Pope Pius X. awarded.
architecture
The five-aisled church in the central Plaza Mayor has a rectangular floor plan. With an inner length of 82 meters, it reaches 98 meters outside and a width of 52 meters. The main aisle and transept form space in the shape of a Greek cross, and the lower aisles have two naves for the chapels. The central nave is supported by 14 Doric columns with a height of 15 meters, above it the main dome rises as a crossing tower with a drum , which measures 43 meters from the floor to the lantern . A second dome rises above the main altar . The main facade in the Renaissance style was built from black limestone. To the side are two square towers, at around 70 meters the tallest in Mexico at the time. One of them carries the bells, the largest bell of which weighs eight tons.
Interior
The interior of the cathedral is decorated with many works of art housed in the 14 side chapels and on the main altar, also known as The Altar of Kings , designed by Manuel Tolsa between 1797 and 1818. Some bishops of Puebla are buried below. On the back wall of the cathedral is a chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The interior of the dome of the apse chapel was painted by Cristóbal de Villalpando with the Assumption of Mary.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción on gcatholic.org
- ↑ Historic Center of Puebla on whc.unesco.org (English)
- ↑ a b Gretchen R. Crowe: City of Puebla Shines as Mexican 'Jewel' . Ed .: Catholic Herald. December 14, 2006.
Coordinates: 19 ° 2 ′ 34.2 " N , 98 ° 11 ′ 54.1" W.