Catedral de Puebla

The Catedral de Puebla, formally the Catedral Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción, anchors the south side of the Zócalo in the historic center of Puebla de Zaragoza. Construction began in 1575 under architect Francisco Becerra but stalled for decades before Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza pushed the project to completion, consecrating the building in 1649. Its twin bell towers, among the tallest in Mexico at just over 69 meters, were finished later in the 17th century and made the cathedral the tallest structure in New Spain for a time. The building follows the sober Herrerian style associated with El Escorial in Spain, with a grey stone and white stucco facade organized around three portals. Inside, the nave and side chapels hold an onyx and marble main altar designed by Manuel Tolsá in the neoclassical style, added in the early 19th century as an update to the original baroque retablos, several of which survive in side chapels. The choir stalls, carved in tzalmulli wood with ivory and precious wood inlay, are considered among the finest examples of colonial woodwork in Mexico. The sacristy and adjoining chapels display 17th- and 18th-century religious paintings, including works attributed to Cristóbal de Villalpando. As an active cathedral rather than a converted museum, the interior is organized around its liturgical function, with visitor movement generally following the side aisles outside of Mass times. INAH and the Archdiocese of Puebla jointly oversee structural conservation; the towers underwent seismic reinforcement work following earthquake damage in past decades, and stonework restoration has focused on cleaning without altering the original grey volcanic stone finish.