Puebla Cathedral

On the south side of Zócalo stands the cathedral, the country's second largest after that of Mexico City. Work began on this impressive, predominantly Renaissance-style, construction in about 1575, but it was not officially opened until 1649. The north portal on the main square is decorated with high reliefs of the four Spanish kings from the Habsburg line (Charles V, Philip II, Philip III, and Philip IV); under the arched border the Spanish royal coat of arms.

The main façade and its doorway are completely plain and uniform and show signs of the approaching Baroque style. The two towers are unusually tall and slender; one dates from 1678, the other was completed ninety years later. The enormous cupola, covered with Azulejos typical of Puebla, is noteworthy.

The impressive interior of the cathedral measures 90 m (295 ft) 3 47 m (154 ft), is 25 m (82 ft) tall and has three naves and a large transept. Of particular note are Manuel Tolsa's Neo-Classical high altar (about 1800), Mateo de la Cruz's wrought-iron choir screen (1679), the carved wooden choir stalls (1719-22), the work of Pedro Muäoz, and the two impressive organs dating from the same time. Also worth mentioning are the Baroque altar in the Royal Chapel and the Baroque retablo by the Flemish artist Diego de Borgraf in the San José Chapel, as well as a number of 17th and 18th c. paintings attributed to Pedro Garcia Ferrer and Miguel Cabrera.