Cathedral of Veracruz facts for kids
The Veracruz Cathedral is a beautiful church located in the historic center of Veracruz, Mexico. It is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. This important building officially became a cathedral in 1963.
Before it was a grand cathedral, a smaller parish church stood on this spot. It was built in the early 1600s and completed in 1731. That older church had just one tower on its right side.
The Cathedral Building
The Veracruz Cathedral is shaped like a basilica. This means it has a wide main area, called a nave. On each side of the nave, there are two narrower walkways called aisles.
The church has an interesting octagonal dome. This dome is topped with a small lantern-like structure. It is covered with special tiles from Puebla, a city in Mexico. The main tower of the cathedral has three sections and also features a small dome.
Main Entrance Details
The main entrance of the cathedral is built in a simple Neoclassical style. It has two doors and a triangular top part called a pediment. The lower part of the entrance has a rounded arch for the door. This arch is framed by columns on the sides and at the corners. These columns are in the Doric style, which is a simple, strong design. They support a decorative ledge called a cornice.
Above this, the second section features a large window for the choir. This window has a round decoration, called a medallion, above it. The same type of columns are used here, but they are in the Ionic style. Ionic columns are a bit more decorative than Doric ones. A central triangular pediment sits at the very top, also decorated with a medallion.
Inside the Cathedral
The inside of the cathedral is simple but elegant. You can see beautiful Baccarat crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The main altar, which is the most important part of the church, was a gift from the Austria-Hungarian Empire.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Veracruz para niños
