Puebla Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Puebla Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral
in the city of Puebla
, in Puebla
, Mexico
. It is a colonial cathedral, and is the see
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Puebla de los Angeles. The cathedral's bishop
is Víctor Sánchez Espinosa. The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception
.
On January 24th, 1557 the Viceroy
Martín Enríquez (1562-80) designated Juan de Cigorondo, a neighbor of México for worker and Francisco Becerra
was appointed architect. The design was submitted to the Dean and Cathedral Chapter
on November 11th 1557.
The construction of the cathedral began in November 1575, but was interrupted in 1626. In 1634 Juan Gómez de Trasmonte modified the design and construction was restarted in 1640 when Bishop Juan de Palafox was ordered by the King Philip III
to finish it. It was mostly completed eight years after. On April 18, 1649, the Cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Virgin Mary.
It was not entirely completed until 1690.
The front façade
was built out of a black canther, and it has two towers, the tallest in Mexico, one of which has no bells. According to legend, an underground river passes under that tower and if bells were placed in it, the tower would collapse.
The interior of the cathedral contains many artistic artefacts that are found in its 14 lateral chapel
s and the altar mayor. Its principal altar
is referred to as "The Major Altar", or "The Altar of the Kings", which was designed by Manuel Tolsa
and built between 1797 and 1818. Some bishops of Puebla are buried under it. Across most of the rear wall of the cathedral is a Blessed Sacrament
chapel.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
in the city of Puebla
Puebla, Puebla
The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded...
, in Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is a colonial cathedral, and is the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Puebla de los Angeles. The cathedral's bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
is Víctor Sánchez Espinosa. The cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
.
History
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
Martín Enríquez (1562-80) designated Juan de Cigorondo, a neighbor of México for worker and Francisco Becerra
Francisco Becerra
Francisco Becerra was a Spanish architect. Born in Trujillo, he designed and worked on several cathedrals in the New World.Becerra either designed the Puebla Cathedral, or worked on building it to designs by Claudio de Arciniega. He also built several convents in Puebla. He also designed a...
was appointed architect. The design was submitted to the Dean and Cathedral Chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
on November 11th 1557.
The construction of the cathedral began in November 1575, but was interrupted in 1626. In 1634 Juan Gómez de Trasmonte modified the design and construction was restarted in 1640 when Bishop Juan de Palafox was ordered by the King Philip III
Philip III of Spain
Philip III , also known as Philip the Pious, was the King of Spain and King of Portugal and the Algarves, where he ruled as Philip II , from 1598 until his death...
to finish it. It was mostly completed eight years after. On April 18, 1649, the Cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Virgin Mary.
It was not entirely completed until 1690.
The front façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
was built out of a black canther, and it has two towers, the tallest in Mexico, one of which has no bells. According to legend, an underground river passes under that tower and if bells were placed in it, the tower would collapse.
Interior
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
s and the altar mayor. Its principal altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
is referred to as "The Major Altar", or "The Altar of the Kings", which was designed by Manuel Tolsa
Manuel Tolsá
Manuel Tolsá was a prolific Neoclassical architect and sculptor in Spain and Mexico.-Biography:...
and built between 1797 and 1818. Some bishops of Puebla are buried under it. Across most of the rear wall of the cathedral is a Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
chapel.