In the central square of the capital of Mexico - Mexico City - is the main cathedral, one of the largest and most majestic in Latin America, the second largest in North America. Its history goes back to the far Middle Ages, when the Spanish conquistadors who arrived on the continent began to dismantle the pyramids created by the Aztecs. From white boulders and granite slabs, they began to build their own Catholic cathedral.
Construction began in 1573. The architects immediately found it difficult to install the foundation. It was hard work and it lasted for almost 8 years, when the foundation, which had grown in different directions, became strong enough to build walls on it. It wasn't until 1623 that the workers were able to begin building the altar, although the blue sky still shone overhead.
In 1629, construction had to be interrupted - due to heavy rains, water gushed from a nearby lake, the canals overflowed and overflowed the banks. The city was flooded by two meters. Ground vibrations were periodically noted, which raised concerns for the fate of the foundation and the erected walls. And yet the gigantic stone structure withstood the onslaught of the elements. However, work was resumed only in 1667, when the creation of the altar and decoration of the cathedral continued, which still did not have a roof, a bell tower and a main portal.
So the cathedral was accepted in 1787 by the new architect José Davian Ortiz de Castro, starting to create the bell towers, portal and roof. He did a lot to complete the work, but did not manage to finish what he had begun - he died in 1973. And again there were problems with finding an architect.
The Spanish architect and sculptor Manuel Tolsa, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Arts in Madrid, who had experience in building various city structures, agreed to participate in the construction of the cathedral. It was under him that the cathedral acquired its visible and final features - two bell towers with 25 bells cast from bronze appeared, the main carved portal, colored stained-glass windows were inserted into the windows. And most importantly, the altar of Forgiveness was completed, carved out of marble and decorated with onyx and gold. It was the best work of Tols himself.
In 1831, the cathedral was fully completed and in a solemn atmosphere, when many thousands of people were gathered, it was consecrated. In total, the temple was erected for 240 years. The main facade of the cathedral looks south into the depths of the continent. At the central portal there are sculptures of the apostles Peter and Paul. And above the cathedral itself there is a relief of the Virgin Mary, to whom the temple is dedicated.
