Zacatecas Cathedral

Facade of the cathedral

inner space

The Cathedral of Zacatecas or Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption ( Spanish Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción ) is a Roman Catholic church in Zacatecas , capital of the Mexican state of the same name . The cathedral of the diocese of Zacatecas is consecrated under the invocation of the Assumption of God and also bears the title of a minor basilica . The cathedral is located in the historic city center and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site with it. Its main facade is considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of baroque architecture in Mexico; the interior is classicist .

history

The city's first parish church was built here in 1568. Subsequently, instead of this small church, a larger one was built from 1612, which was consecrated in 1625. As the city grew and prosperity increased, a completely new church was planned and the old one torn down. In 1718 the foundation stone was laid for the new building. The church was blessed in 1752 and consecrated in 1841. Construction was not completed until 1904 when the facade and north tower were completed, the latter being built by the builder Dámaso Muñetón. With the creation of the diocese in 1862 Pope Pius IX. the church to the rank of cathedral. In 1935 the church was declared a monument. Pope John XXIII also awarded the cathedral the title of minor basilica in 1959. In 1993 it was named a World Heritage Site as part of the old town.

architecture

The facade in the Mexican Baroque

The exterior of the building is clad with pink stone and designed in an exotic and typically Mexican mix of Churriguera baroque with indigenous elements. The main facade consists of three bodies. The middle part is richly decorated, the basement floors of the side church towers are simple, the upper floors are again very elaborate. The middle section is framed continuously by external columns and has three floors. The entrance arch of the portal is decorated with angels and various floral motifs, between grapevines and shells there are niches with sculptures of the apostles Jacob, Peter, Paul and Andreas. On the second level, the complex ornaments of plant motifs and angels surround the central round window and the figures of the four doctors of the Latin Church with their respective characteristics: St. Gregory the Great , St. Jerome , St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Ambrose of Milan . The lower third floor is structured by baroque pilasters with figures of angels. In the niches in between there are five sculptures: four apostles around the central figure of Jesus Christ. In the gable above a representation of the Eternal Father.

The three-aisled basilica has a rectangular floor plan, the transepts form a Latin cross with the central nave . The original crossing dome was replaced in the style of the Loreto Church in Mexico City. The dome is octagonal with a wrought-iron cross on its lantern .

inner space

the modern main altar

The interior of the cathedral was designed in the stricter classical style and thus forms a clear contrast to the facade. This can be seen in the large Doric columns and classicist side altars. The main altar by the artist Javier Marín from Michoacan is 24-carat gold-plated with 25 kilograms of Mazapil gold. It is 17 meters high and ten meters wide and weighs about 20 tons. The altarpiece is made of Finnish birch and is constructed with vertical prismatic strips that extend into the vault of the apse, and in whose niches the statues of saints are presented. At the top is a depiction of the Assumption of the Virgin , to which the cathedral is dedicated. On either side are the virgin's parents, Anna and Joachim , including eight other saints. The bronze cross is 4.2 meters high and two meters wide.