Puebla Cathedral facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Cathedral Basilica of Puebla
Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción
Puebla Cathedral
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
District	Archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Cathedral and Minor basilica
Year consecrated	18 April 1649; 376 years ago (1649-04-18)
Location
Location	Puebla de Zaragoza, Mexico
Architecture
Architect(s)	Francisco Becerra and Juan Gómez de Trasmonte (cathedral) Manuel Tolsá (cypress) Pedro García Ferrer (Altar of the Kings) Cristóbal de Villalpando (frescoes)
Architectural style	Herrerian style (mainly), Neoclassical, Baroque
Groundbreaking	18 November 1575; 449 years ago (1575-11-18)
Completed	(South tower) 1737; 288 years ago (1737)
Specifications
Direction of façade	West-Orient
Length	97.67 m (320 ft)
Width	51 m (170 ft)
Width (nave)	82 m (270 ft)
Spire(s)	2
Spire height	70 m (230 ft)

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name: Part of the Historic Centre of Puebla
Type:	Cultural
Criteria:	ii, iv
Designated:	1987 (11th session)
Reference #:	416
Region:	Latin America and the Caribbean

The Cathedral Basilica of Puebla, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is the main church for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Puebla de los Ángeles in Mexico. It's one of the most important buildings in the historic center of Puebla, which is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. This grand church was the first of its kind built in the Americas, finished in 1649. It was even completed before the Mexico City Cathedral, which was dedicated in 1653. King Philip II of Spain started its construction.

The current cathedral was built between the 16th and 17th centuries. It replaced an older church that stood in the same spot. It took 74 years to build, from 1575 to its dedication in 1649. Three Spanish kings reigned during its construction: Philip II, Philip III, and Philip IV. Work stopped for a while until Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza arrived in 1640. He was very enthusiastic and made sure the building was finished. The new design made the central part of the church taller than the sides, letting in more natural light. Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza dedicated the cathedral on April 18, 1649, even though it wasn't completely finished.

The cathedral is shaped like a rectangle and sits on a large open space called the atrium. The building has five main sections inside: a central aisle, two side aisles, and two rows of chapels. Its Renaissance-style front is very impressive. At over 70 meters tall, it was once the tallest church in the Spanish colonies. The cathedral is considered a very important museum of art from the time of New Spain because of the many treasures it holds. Over the centuries, it has collected beautiful paintings, sculptures, gold and silver items, and wooden carvings. Its historical records go back to when the city was founded.

Building the Cathedral

The cathedral seen from the main square, the Zócalo.

The First Churches

In 1531, Queen Isabella of Portugal allowed a Spanish town to be founded in the area called Cuetlaxcoapan. The first church was built in front of the main square. On May 16, 1535, a meeting was held to plan a new, bigger church. Bishop Julián Garcés also wanted a new temple.

By 1537, the city was ready for Bishop Garcés to live there. In 1543, King Charles V approved building a new church for the bishop. The land for the church was next to the main square, but some early residents had built houses there. These houses had to be bought to make space for the new church.

Construction of this new temple began on August 29, 1535. Bishop Ojacastro and city residents helped pay for it. The first stone was laid with important city officials present. This 1535 church was on the same spot as today's cathedral. It faced north to south, towards the main square. People at the time said it was "very solemn, and stronger and larger than all those built to date." It had three aisles and pillars made of black stone. However, it needed repairs many times. The people of Puebla wanted an even grander church, and eventually, the king agreed to a new cathedral.

Starting the New Cathedral

It took many years to get the plans and preparations ready for the new cathedral. Even though King Philip II of Spain offered help in 1560, the city didn't have enough money to start. They even had to buy land from Alonso Martín Partidor, who owned the houses where the cathedral would be built.

Finally, on November 18, 1575, construction began. The first architect was Francisco Becerra from Spain. He created the design and model for the church. The viceroy ordered people from Cholula and Tlaxcala to help build the cathedral. The building was planned to be in the center of its block, with an open space in front that would also serve as a cemetery. The church would face east to west, with the main city square on its north side.

In 1580, Francisco Becerra left Mexico. The viceroy of Peru called him to work on cathedrals in Quito and Cusco. The Puebla cathedral was left unfinished. Work started again between 1587 and 1590 under a new plan. People from Tlaxcala and Cholula continued to work on it.

Between 1618 and 1640, construction stopped again. The walls and cornices were built, but the altars, chapels, and ceilings were missing. The floor was still dirt. However, Juan Gómez de Trasmonte had been working on changing Becerra's design since 1634. He was the main architect, but his plan couldn't be built until Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza arrived. Gómez de Trasmonte had also worked on the Mexico City Cathedral. He changed the design to be more classical and shaped like a basilica.

The Time of Bishop Palafox y Mendoza

Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza helped finish the cathedral after years of delays.

Bishop Palafox arrived with an order from the king on January 19, 1640, to finish the cathedral. He visited the church and found it neglected. He described it as:

(...) I found this temple built only up to half of the pillars and everything exposed, without any instruments and materials or effects ready to be bought, without having begun any arch or vault and without hope of continuing. Outlaws of justice were collected in it for being considered sacred. Married Indians lived in the chapels, and other indecencies.

Palafox started a fundraising campaign, asking everyone in Puebla to help. He even used his own inheritance. He also raised church taxes, which caused disagreements with some religious groups.

To restart construction, Palafox needed 1,500 workers. He supervised them every week. Gómez de Trasmonte's design made the central nave taller, giving the church a pyramid shape from the front. This was to bring more light inside. The cathedral was finally dedicated on Sunday, April 18, 1649. However, the towers were not yet finished, and the main front was incomplete.

A few days after the dedication, the remains of five bishops were moved to the cathedral. A large crowd attended the celebration. Bishop Palafox soon left for Spain. He not only left the finished cathedral to Puebla but also founded the San Pedro Colleges and the Palafoxian Library.

Later Additions

The main front, called the Puerta del Perdón (Door of Forgiveness), was finished in 1664.
In 1664, the "Ochavo" was approved. This was a place to store valuable religious items. Architect Carlos García Durango built it.
The side front facing north, called San Cristóbal, was finished in 1690.
Iron railings for the chapels and the main altar were added around 1691.
In 1772, the entire cathedral floor was paved with Santo Tomás marble. This replaced the original brick floor.

Outside the Cathedral

The Puebla Cathedral in 1875.

Front view of the cathedral.

The cathedral building is 97.67 meters long and 51 meters wide. It is shaped like a Greek cross and faces east to west. The main entrance, called the Puerta del Perdón, is on the west. The north side has the royal entrance, and the south side has a simpler entrance.

Towers

The North tower of the cathedral, also known as the Old Tower.

The north tower, which has all the bells, was finished in 1678. It was built without any lives lost. The south tower was built later, starting in 1731 and opening on September 29, 1768. Both towers are 70 meters tall. At the time, they were the tallest in the American colonies.

The two towers at the front are identical and square. They are topped with domes made of brick and azulejo tiles. A white stone globe and a three-meter-high cross sit on top of each dome.

Bells

The North Tower has ten bells, plus a smaller bell for the clock. The largest and most famous bell is called "Campana María" (Mary Bell). It weighs about 8.5 tons with its clapper! It was very difficult to lift such a heavy bell through a narrow opening. This led to the famous legend that angels lifted it into place. In reality, it was lifted on Saint Mark's Day in 1732 by a skilled worker named Juan Bautista Santiago.

Memorable Bell Ringings

The cathedral bells have rung for special events like coronations of kings. Here are some memorable times they rang in independent Mexico:

On August 2, 1821, when the Army of the Three Guarantees entered the city.
On the afternoon of May 5, 1862, after the French army retreated from the Battle of Puebla. People celebrated all night with bells ringing.
On May 5, 1962, to mark 100 years since the Battle of Loreto y Guadalupe.
On January 28, 1979, when Pope John Paul II visited the city.

Facades

The Cathedral of Puebla in 1873.

The cathedral has five entrances to the inside. One on each side, and three on the front. All of them are in a simple Renaissance style.

Puerta del Perdón (Door of Forgiveness)

The central entrance, called the "Puerta del Perdón," is 34 meters tall. It only opens on very special occasions, just like in the Mexico City Cathedral. It was finished in 1664. This entrance has three main sections. The first section has statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The middle section has statues of Saint Joseph and Saint James the Great. The top section has the coat of arms of Spain.

On both sides of the Puerta del Perdón, there are two posts. When the archbishopric of Puebla was created in 1904, two plaques with Latin writings were placed on these posts. One mentions the first bishop, Julián Garcés, and the other mentions the first Archbishop, Ramón Ibarra y González.

The side entrances have carvings. On the left, there is Saint Rose of Lima receiving roses from the Virgin. On the right, there is Saint Teresa of Ávila being wounded by an angel's arrow.

Religious ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Ávila
Julián Garcés first bishop of the diocese of Puebla de los Ángeles
Ramón Ibarra y González last bishop and first archbishop of Puebla

North and South Side Entrances

The South Entrance.

The entrance facing the main square is called San Cristóbal, named after Saint Christopher. A giant wooden statue of this saint used to be behind the door. Today, a large painting of the saint is there, and the statue is in another church.

The North and South entrances look similar but have different details. The South entrance is simpler, without statues or many decorations. It is located in front of the Casa de la Cultura. Its iron gate was built by José Mariano Saavedra. This entrance was closed for over 50 years and reopened in September 2010.

The North entrance is about 30 meters tall and has three sections. The first section has statues of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Matthew the Apostle. The second section has statues of Saint Luke and Saint Mark. The top section has two Corinthian columns and a front. The stonework of this entrance is considered a masterpiece.

Domes: Main and Kings'

The main dome, which is 43 meters high. It shows evangelists and prophets.

The main dome rises grandly over the center of the church. It has an octagonal base with windows. The outside is covered with yellow and green azulejo tiles. It ends with a graceful top and a small statue of the Conception.

The dome of the Chapel of the Kings is smaller. It has four windows and four stairs. This dome shines brightly at night when the church is lit up.

Atrium

The atrium is the open space in front of the cathedral. It was probably where the older church stood. In the 16th century, a chapel for native people was built here, along with houses for priests. There was also a place for bones from the hospital.

These buildings later disappeared. In the 18th century, the entire atrium was paved with stairs and surrounded by posts with statues of saints. The current fence around the atrium began to be built in 1878. Private donors paid for each section.

Inside the Cathedral

A drawing showing the inside of the Cathedral Basilica.

The inside of the cathedral is 97.67 meters long and 51 meters wide. The main church area, from the front to the Altar of the Kings, is 82 meters long. It has five main sections: the central nave, the crossing nave, two processional naves, and two rows of chapels.

There are 14 huge Doric columns, almost 15 meters tall, and 6 pilasters (flat columns). They support the ceilings and arches of the upper nave. Another 18 columns are built into the side walls. All these pillars support 40 vaults and two domes. The stone for these was brought from nearby towns and carved perfectly.

The 14 columns in the middle nave are not round. They are square posts with a column on each side. In total, there are 74 columns and six pilasters. These support 12 main arches that you can see. The main part of the cathedral has two domes. The largest one is over the crossing. There are also 14 smaller domes in the side naves, plus 14 more in the chapels, making 39 domes in total. Most of the domes are made of lime and stone, except for the largest one, which uses light pumice stone.

Eight niches in the main dome have white stucco sculptures of prophets and evangelists. These were created by the Spanish architect Pedro García Ferrer. The floor is made of alternating red and black marble. The building is lit by 124 windows, with 2,215 panes of glass.

Altars of the Gospel and the Epistle

The processional nave on the Gospel side. The altar dedicated to Saint Joseph is in the background.

Each side nave has an altar at its end. The one on the Gospel side (left) is dedicated to Saint Joseph. The one on the Epistle side (right) is dedicated to Archangel Michael. Both altars are gilded and in the Corinthian order style. They have large niches with glass, holding images of the saints they are dedicated to.

The altar of Saint Joseph has silver decorations. The statues between its columns are of Joachim and Saint Anne. Another Holy Christ with the Virgin and Saint John is in the tabernacle of this altar.

Stations of the Cross

Along both processional naves, there are paintings showing the Stations of the Cross. These were created by the famous 18th-century painter Miguel Cabrera.

Transept

On the north side of the transept, there is a large painting of Saint Christopher carrying the Child Jesus. In front of it is a painting of Archangel Michael. On the south side, there is a painting representing Saint Joseph. The doors here were made of cedar in the 17th century in the Mudéjar style.

Chapels of the Gospel Side

The left processional nave, called the Gospel nave, has these chapels:

Chapel of Saint James the Apostle

This chapel connects to the Sagrario (Tabernacle). It was originally dedicated to Saint James the Great. It has a sculpture of Saint James the Less. The painting of Saint Philomena is also here. The remains of General José María Calderón, the first governor of Puebla, are buried under a bronze tombstone.

Chapel of Saint Peter

This chapel's altarpiece was opened in 1830. It has sculptures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Paintings by Vincenzo Camuccini include Jesus walking on the sea and Christ tied up.

Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe

José Manzo redesigned this chapel in the Neoclassical style. He placed the famous painting of The Virgin of Guadalupe by Miguel Cabrera here. It is surrounded by images of the Blessed Bartolomé Gutiérrez and Saint Philip of Jesus. On the side, there is The Coronation of Mary by Cristóbal de Villalpando. The remains of the first Archbishop of Puebla, Ramón Ibarra y González, are on the floor.

Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Mary

This chapel originally held relics. It was later dedicated to Saint Andrew. José Manzo redesigned it in the Neoclassical style, dedicating it to "Mary health of the sick." The painting of Mary was done by Francisco Morales Van den Eyden.

Chapel of the Immaculate Conception

This chapel was managed by the silversmiths' guild of Puebla. It has a statue of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Louis of Toulouse, and Saint Bonaventure.

Chapel of the Lord of the Precious Blood

This chapel, once called "del Cristo," has a life-size sculpture of the crucified Jesus. It is said to be made of corn cane paste. The sculpture is joined by a Virgin of Hope and a Saint John the Baptist.

Chapel of Saint Nicholas of Bari

This chapel was once a baptistery. In the early 20th century, the worship of Saint Nicholas of Bari was moved here. The sculpture of Saint Nicholas is thought to be by José Antonio Villegas Cora. Paintings show the genealogy of the Virgin Mary and miracles of Saint Nicholas.

Chapels of the Epistle Side

The right processional nave, known as the Epistle nave, has these chapels:

Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows

This chapel connects to the sacristy. It has a representation of the Virgin of Sorrows and the Calvary. On the sides are Saint Rose of Lima and Saint John Vianney.

Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

This chapel has a painting of Our Lady of La Manga. The remains of General Miguel Miramón and journalist Trinidad Sánchez Santos are also here.

Chapel of the Holy Relics

This chapel holds relics (holy objects or remains). The architect José Manzo transformed this chapel. It has busts containing fragments of bones of saints. Inside the central niche, there are reliquaries and paintings by Juan Tinoco. Among the relics is the femur of Beato Sebastián de Aparicio.

Chapel of Saint John Nepomucene

Originally dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, it was later dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari. Because so many people visited Saint Nicholas, it disturbed the main ceremonies. So, his worship was moved, and this chapel was dedicated to Saint John of Nepomucene. It has a painting of the Virgin of la Luz and a sculpture of Saint John Nepomucene.

Chapel of the Lord of the Column

This chapel has a statue of the Lord of the Whips from Acatzingo, Puebla. The side walls have two large paintings by Cristóbal de Villalpando from 1683: The descent from the Cross and the Transfiguration of Jesus.

One of the large wall paintings in the Chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.

Chapel of the Holy Shroud

José Manzo also redesigned this chapel in the Neoclassical style. It has a neo-Gothic bronze canopy that holds an image of the Virgin of Ocotlán. Many people call this chapel by her name.

Every Good Friday, the altarpiece is opened to show a copy of the Holy Shroud. This copy is perhaps the oldest work in the cathedral, dating back to April 8, 1594. It was brought to Mexico by Archdeacon Fernando Gutiérrez Pacheco.

Chapel of Our Lady of Solitude

This last chapel has a Neoclassical style altarpiece. The side walls have two 17th-century paintings of the Passion: The Descent and The Calvary.

Sagrario (Sanctuary)

The Capilla del Sagrario Metropolitano of Puebla is a chapel within the cathedral. It was created to have a separate space for sacraments and spiritual services for the Spanish population and their servants. This was because the main cathedral, as the bishop's seat, was not meant to serve as a regular parish church.

Entrance to the Capilla del Sagrario Metropolitano.

Sacristy

The "Triumph of the Catholic Church" painting in the Sacristy.

You can enter the Sacristy through the first chapel on the Epistle side. It is 17 meters long and 10.40 meters wide. This large room has a big wooden chest of drawers that holds many rich liturgical ornaments. In the middle, there is a large Renaissance-style wooden table.

The upper part of the sacristy is filled with paintings. The large painting at the back shows The Triumph of the Catholic Church over paganism. Other paintings show the "Triumph of the faith of Jesus Christ" and the "Triumph of religion." These were all done by the 17th-century Mexican painter Baltasar de Echave Rioja. They were copied from prints by Paul Rubens. Other paintings by Echave Rioja, showing scenes from the Apocalypse, are also here. All these paintings are in beautiful gilded altarpieces.

The walls of the next vault also have large paintings. One important painting is the "Immaculate Conception under the patronage of the bishops of the Diocese of Puebla" by Luis Berrueco. It shows the first bishop, Friar Julián Garcés, and Juan de Palafox y Mendoza finishing the cathedral. On the sides, there is "The lavatory" by Luis Berrueco from the 18th century. In one corner, there is a 3-meter-high marble fountain.

Hall of the Gobelins

One of the four gobelin tapestries in the Hall of the Gobelins.

This room displays four magnificent tapestries, called gobelins, from Greek mythology. They show scenes like Queen Hippolyta of the Amazons, the chariot of the aurora, and the meeting of Thalestris and Alexander the Great. The last gobelin shows the Argonauts setting sail to find the golden fleece. These tapestries came from the French factory of Jean Gobelin and were brought by the Spanish.

Chapter House

Also known as the Hall of Bishops, this room was originally covered with elaborate moldings. It is one of the less known areas of the cathedral. It holds portraits of all the bishops of Puebla throughout history. In the center is a statue of Saint John Nepomuk, reminding everyone about the secrecy of the meetings held here. This room has changed locations several times. The current Chapter House has the Hall of the Gobelins as an entrance room.

Chocolatier Hall

The Chocolatier Hall.

The Chocolatier Hall is next to the Hall of the Gobelins. It was used by church officials to store their belongings in small cabinets. They also had breakfast or snacks here during long meetings, and cups of chocolate were always served. The walls have oil portraits of important church officials who later became bishops.

Chapel of the Holy Spirit (Ochavo)

Altarpiece inside the Chapel of the Ochavo.

This chapel is better known as del Ochavo. It has a semicircular ceiling and an 8-sided lantern. Inside, it has three altarpieces covered with small paintings and mirrors, mostly showing religious history. This chapel is in the 17th-century Baroque style. It was once a small prayer room and storage area. The paintings here are by Cristóbal de Villalpando. It was built under the leadership of Bishop Manuel Fernández de Santa Cruz.

The architect Carlos García Durango designed it in 1674. It has an octagonal floor plan, about 10 meters on each side, with walls 7.30 meters high. The dome is covered with bricks and Talavera decorations.

Jewelry and Treasures

The main altar (cypress) is decorated with 48 silver and gold candlesticks, each one meter tall. There are also 8 silver and gold bouncers, and 4 beautiful silver jugs with silver bouquets. In the tabernacle, there are four more silver jugs. Twenty-five oil lamps and 6 larger lamps hang from the church's ceilings. Two of these lamps, hanging next to the tabernacle, are over 2 meters tall and have 30 lights each.

One beautiful lamp hanging from the largest dome is a masterpiece by the goldsmith Diego Larios. It was first used in 1751. It is called "Mestiza" because it is made of silver with gold overlays and has 42 lights. The cathedral also has other sets of candlesticks, lecterns, and various gold and silver items like thuribles (for incense).

The monstrance used on special days is made of gold, almost a meter tall, and covered with many diamonds and emeralds. It was first used on June 1, 1727. Another gold monstrance, about a meter tall, is decorated with pearls, emeralds, diamonds, and other precious stones. It was first used in September 1803 and was made by Antonio de Villafañe. Francisco Javier Clavijero, in his book about Puebla, wrote about these treasures:

The silverware of this cathedral church is superb, among other things it has a large silver lamp a little smaller than that of the Cathedral of Mexico but superior to it due to the excellence of the work with which it is made. It has 4 silver statues the height of a man. It stands out above all for its wealth, the monstrance [...] of solid gold adorned with precious stones, among which there is a diamond valued, it is said, at 10,000 escudos.

Puebla Cathedral lit up at night.

Among the sacred vessels, two gold ones and a monstrance made by José Inzunza are notable. There is also an elegant, 5.5-meter-tall tenebrio (a candelabrum for Holy Week) made of ebony wood and silver, by José Mariano Castillo.

Mass Schedules

The cathedral basilica holds five daily masses from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, there is a lot of activity, with up to ten masses celebrated. The times can change depending on holidays like Easter or Christmas.

Mass Schedule
Sundays
7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Monday to Saturday
7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 7 p.m. (On Mondays, at 12:00 p.m., mass is celebrated in honor of Saint Nicholas of Bari.)

Images for kids

Cypress of the cathedral in 1900.
The second organ built in 1737.
Retrochoir door.
Choir stalls
The Choir from the baldachin.
The organ and grille of the Choir.
Chapels of the cathedral.
The tempera painting of the dome of the Altar of the Kings by Cristóbal de Villalpando (1688).
Reredos of the Altar of the Kings.
The cypress, built between 1799 and 1819, by Manuel Tolsá.
The processional nave of the Gospel, in the background the altar dedicated to Saint Joseph, on the left paintings of the Stations of the Cross made by Miguel Cabrera and on the right the Choir.
Cancellation of the door of San Cristóbal and painting of the saint, by the author Lara and the Christ by the sculptor José Zacarías Cora.
Plan of the Cathedral.

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