Morelia Cathedral

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Morelia (Spanish: Catedral Metropolitana de Morelia (San Salvador)) is a religious site that is the seat of the Archdiocese of Morelia of the Catholic church in Mexico. It is located as its name itself says in the city of Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The cathedral is located in the first square of the city, forming the trace of the Historic Center of Morelia. The building was built in the 18th century at the time of the viceroyalty, it is Baroque in style and is made of pink stone that gives it a peculiar and characteristic color. An important family group headed by Sebastián de Guedea collaborated in its construction for a long period; They were Andrés, Pedro, Diego, Miguel, Anastacio, Lorenzo and Joseph, all with the surname Guedea.
Majestic pink quarry building, in Baroque board style. Inside, the Doric order predominates as the basis of the ornamentation and it has Neoclassical altarpieces. Its construction began in 1660 and was completed in 1744. Among the treasures it houses are the Baroque-style Silver Manifestor from the 18th century; the silver Baptismal Font, in Neoclassical style, also from the 18th century; the Monumental Organ, from the beginning of the century and consisting of 4,600 flutes or voices; the image of the Lord of the Sacristy, made with the pre-Hispanic technique of "corn cane paste", from the 16th century, as well as valuable paintings located in the sacristy and the Chapter house.
In 1580 the first cathedral was inaugurated, much inferior to the current one in size and artistic value (it was located on the corners of calles Abasolo and Corregidora). However, the growth experienced by the city of Valladolid —now Morelia— at the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th, as well as a fire that severely affected the previous cathedral, made it necessary to think of another larger, more solid, and more important temple. That is why, at the beginning of the 17th century, the procedures for the construction of the new cathedral began.
On May 6, 1660, the first stone was laid by Bishop Friar Marcos Ramírez Del Prado. The construction was in charge of the Italian architect Vizencio Barroquio until his death in 1692, which is why this great architect could not see his monumental work completed. However, only 52 years later his disciples managed to finish the gigantic architectural task, so this magnificent work was completed in 1744.
The interior of the building is Doric in style and consists of three naves, the central one supported by 14 columns. Attached to these naves are four delicately decorated chapels as well as several Neoclassical altarpieces along the 2 side naves. The cathedral has four chapels located at the beginning of the side naves, two of them are placed under the towers and the other two are adjoining, the chapels on the east side were dedicated to the Virgin of la Soledad and the tabernacle of the cathedral, meanwhile one on the west side is dedicated to the Holy Family and the other made of marble as the tomb of archbishops.
There are several rooms such as the capitulary and the sacristy, where you can find old paintings and furniture from the 17th and 19th centuries, despite the many lootings that the Morelia cathedral suffered during the war of independence and the Mexican Revolution, it still preserves great works of artistic, religious and historical value. Inside there are several sculptures, such as a majestic Christ dating from the 16th century, better known as the Lord of the Sacristy. It also includes paintings by prominent artists such as Miguel Cabrera and Juan Rodríguez Juárez, and others are preserved in the sacristy and in the chapter house.
The Cathedral of Morelia has an impressive tubular organ from the beginning of the 20th century, called "San Gregorio Magno", it is German-made and has 4600 voices or flutes, it replaces the old Spanish organ from the 18th century, of which only the wood facades that decorate the tubular organ are preserved.
The exterior of the cathedral is an enormous colossus of pink quarry stone (very frequent material in the region) with two large Baroque-style towers, each more than 65 meters high, it has a triple façade with carved altarpieces, its beautiful wrought-iron grille from the 19th century limits the atrium, in the temple we can appreciate a "Latin cross" type plant with a length of 96 meters, the main Baroque style facade is composed of three levels and unlike other New Spanish cities it faces the main avenue of the city and not the square, on the main portal we can see bas-reliefs and sculptures that refer to the resurrection, the adoration of the shepherds, as well as the adoration of the magicians.
The two twin towers, each more than 65 meters high, exceed the front of the temple, which gives the cathedral an imposing appearance, full of grace and balance, an iron cross is placed on the tip of one of the towers, which symbolizes "the divine nature of Christ", while in the other there is a stone cross that represents "the human nature of Jesus", there is also another dome, which crowns one of the chapels of the building, finally we find that the main dome is covered with azulejos and supported by a large circular drum.
It is a huge colossus of pink quarry with two large towers 66.8 m high, (twin towers) of checkered Baroque style. It has a triple façade (one front and two sides) with carved altarpieces. The temple has a floor plan of the Latin cross type with a length of 96 m and a total width of 62 m. Limiting the atrium is a beautiful wrought iron grille dating from the 19th century.
The interior of the building contrasts with the exterior, since it is Doric in style and consists of three naves, the central one being supported by fourteen columns. In addition, attached to the lateral naves, there are four delicately decorated chapels and multiple Neoclassical altarpieces along the two lateral naves.
This magnificent architectural work, due to the clarity of its profiles, chiaroscuro and the way of carving the façades between the buttresses, is compared by Joaquín Bérchez, with the façade of the Granada Cathedral by Alonso Cano and with works by Diego Antonio Díaz in Seville.
It still preserves great treasures. Works of great artistic, religious and historical value.
19°42′10″N 101°11′31″W﻿ / ﻿19.7028°N 101.192°W﻿ / 19.7028; -101.192