Puebla Cathedral

Puebla Cathedral, formally the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is the religious heart of the Mexican city of Puebla and part of the city's UNESCO World Heritage–listed historic center. Construction began in 1575 and, after several interruptions and changes of plan, the cathedral was consecrated in 1649, though it was not fully completed until 1690. The three-aisled church, built on a rectangular floor plan, is a Renaissance structure with a black limestone facade and two striking towers. Inside, fourteen Doric columns support the nave, while a tall dome rises above the crossing. Visitors marvel at the rich furnishings, especially the main altar, known as the Altar of the Kings, and the artworks in the side chapels. One particular highlight is the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament on the rear wall, whose dome is decorated with a fresco of the Assumption of Mary. As a protected historic monument and the seat of the archdiocese, the cathedral embodies the Baroque splendor and spiritual history of the region.