Zacatecas Cathedral

Catedral Basílica de la Asunción de María de Zacatecas
22°46′32.5″N 102°34′19.6″W / 22.775694°N 102.572111°W / 22.775694; -102.572111
Location	Zacatecas City, Zacatecas
Country	Mexico
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Style	Churrigueresque, Neoclassical
Specifications
Number of spires	2
Administration
Archdiocese	Diocese of Zacatecas

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption of Zacatecas, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, is the head temple of the Diocese of Zacatecas. Located in the historic city center, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The main facade of the premises is known as one of the most outstanding examples of Baroque art in Mexico.

History

Prior to the current building were two temples. The first was built in the year 1568, as a parish of the city, which was of small dimensions. A second temple was built in place of the old and known to be consecrated in 1625.

In order to build a temple of the larger measures worthy of the city of "the aristocrats of silver", and to tell more quota, everything built is pulled, and rise the walls of the building we meet in our day. The first stone was laid by Don José de Izarraguirre, episcopal vicar. The work was dedicated in 1752. Consecrated until 1841, when the auction was completed the imafronte and the north tower, the latter work by the master builder Dámaso Muñetón. This tower holds a clock donated by Governor Genaro García Rojas.

In 1862, Pope Pius IX gives the church the cathedral status. And finally, in the year 1959, Pope John XXIII elevated to a basilica.

The building

The floor of the building is shaped like a Latin cross. Three naves, the main and two sides, with less than the first. It has two side access covers, worked in stone and with no less detail than the first, the latter, the best finish and detail of Baroque art in the country. The original dome was replaced by the current, which bears a strong resemblance to the Templo de Loreto in Mexico City. It is octagonal, with lantern, surmounted by a wrought iron cross.

The building's exterior is covered with pink stone and are very worked both covers and towers, unlike the interior of sober neoclassical.

The main facade

Panoramic of the main facade of the Cathedral of Zacatecas.

Elegant and decorated as a show of lace carved in stone. It consists of three bodies. The first three columns of Corinthian capital, with the stem highly ornamented with angels and plant motifs, mainly vines between each column are located in niches with pedestals that houses the stone carvings of the apostles St. James, St. Peter, St. Paul and St. Andrew. The entrance arch so mixtilineal, is also decorated with reliefs of diamonds, angels and floral motifs.

The second level houses the window of the choir, of Worth, mixtilineal finishing with moldings and framed by a ring excessively decorated with plant motifs, anthropomorphic and in high relief type key cup and in the corners of it, the four doctors of the Latin Church with their respective attributes, (St. Gregory the Great, St. Jerome, St. Augustine of Hippo and St. Ambrose of Milan, the first two in the top corners and the last two in the bottom corners). Three columns decorated with plants and vines guarding the window of the choir. Similarly in the second body between each column a niche with a pedestal, four in total, with sculptures of saints.

The third body, smaller, but also sports has five niches flanked by Baroque pilasters, also decorated by floral motifs, which hold five sculptures: Four apostles and the central niche is chaired by the sculpture of Jesus Christ.

The pediment of the façade, presents a picture of the glory to the Eternal Father, it could say the whole scene presides developed in the facade.

It is said that the color tones in the quarry of the facade gives change as sunlight during the day. So the best time to observe is between 14.30 and 18.00 hours.

The side covers

With two side doorways. The first, north, dedicated to Lord of the parish. It consists of two parts, the first arc of half point, its spandrels have vegetable ornaments and angels, has a copy in stone of a Christ who is inside. On either side figures of caryatids with plant motifs and cherubs. The second body, more elaborate than the first, a set framed by columns stipes with the image of Christ, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, with a curtain deployed by angels. Have a shot mixtilineal.

The cover South, dedicated to Our Lady of Zacatecas, whose sculpture is in a niche, this is mentioned to have been sculpted by an artist sentenced to death, he saved his sentence with this sculpture. The facade, with two bodies: the first with arch, flanked by baroque columns, decorated with plant motifs. The second section presents the above image, guarded by two caryatids columns.

Main shrine in honor of Our Lady of Zacatecas

Altarpiece

The interior

Very austere. Contrasts with the exterior richly decorated, is large Doric columns, the neoclassical side altars. Well vaults handkerchief. On the keys of the arches, there are Marian symbols, figures of saints, evangelist, clergy and objects of passion.

In the central part contains an altar designed by artist Javier Marín from Michoacan, which is all covered with gold leaf 24 carat. Its 17 feet high and ten wide, are covered with 25 kilos of this metal, extracted from the bowels of Zacatecan semidesert (Mazapil, Zac.). Was constructed from geometric prisms born of the upper platform of the sanctuary, they create spaces that way niches where they settle elaborate images of the saints. It weighs about 20 tons and is made of Finnish birch, a very hard wood that neither expands or shrinks, as it does not react to changes in humidity. The altarpiece has eleven images. At the top is the Virgin of the Assumption, who is consecrated the temple. On either side are the parents of the Virgin, Santa Ana and San Joaquin. In the lower part are San Juan Bautista, San Agustin, Santo Domingo, San Antonio de Padua and San Ignacio de Loyola. On the sides were placed images of the martyrs Zacatecas San Mateo Correa and Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro The cross was made of bronze "lost wax" and measures 4.2 meters high and two wide.

External links

• Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cathedral of Zacatecas.

• Brief information of the cathedral

• Review of the Cathedral of Zacatecas

• synthesis of the history of the cathedral

• Architectural description of the Cathedral of Zacatecas

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Coordinates: 22°46′33″N 102°34′20″W / 22.77583°N 102.57222°W / 22.77583; -102.57222