Morelia Cathedral: Difference between revisions

Morelia Cathedral is a baroque cathedral and its two 70-metre towers dominate the skyline of the city of Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Morelia.

Main facade

The pink stone shining in the sun.

Work began on the cathedral on 6 August 1660, and it was completed 84 years later, in 1744. On Saturday nights at 8 p.m., a spectacle including fireworks and music takes places. It is a wonderful view especially on the night of September 15 when the governor of Michoacan gives his annual Grito de Independencia.

General information of interest

• Majestic pink stone building, Baroque tablerado. Inside predominates, as the basis of ornamentation, and has Doric neoclassical altarpieces. Its construction began in 1660 and ended in 1744. Among the treasures is the baroque Manifestador de la plata (Manifesting silver) of the 18th century, the Pila Bautismal de plata (baptismal font of silver) neoclassical style, also of the 18th century, the Monumental Organ of the century and consists of 4600 flutes or voices, the image Señor de la Sacristía (Lord of the vestry), made with pre-Hispanic art of "corn cane paste", the 16th century, as well as valuable paintings located in the sacristy and the chapter.
• It is the only cathedral in Mexico that is not oriented toward the East, but to the north.
• Its Órgano Monumental (Monumental organ), of German origin in the early 20th century, is the largest in Mexico.
• Architecturally the Cathedral of Morelia comparing with other Cathedrals in Mexico is similar to the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Cathedral of Puebla, and even inside the Cathedral of Guadalajara.
• The cathedral is the flagship building is representative of Morelia given its height, since it has two high towers, which can be seen throughout the valley of the city. Due to its height, the towers of the Cathedral of Morelia (66.8 m) are the fourth highest in Mexico, after the towers of the Santuario Guadalupano in Zamora de Hidalgo (105 m) , the cathedral of Villahermosa (80 m) and the Santuario de Guadalupe, in San Luis Potosi (68 m), but in its style, is the highest in Latin America.
• According to the critic and art historian Sylvester Baxter, the Morelia is the most beautiful of all Mexican cathedrals.
• Stage lighting has a uniquely beautiful placed by the company that lit the Eiffel Tower in Paris. On Saturday, the cathedral offers a spectacle of light, sound and lighting fireworks with this.
• The cathedral is dedicated to the Transfiguration and inside houses two highly venerated images, Sacred Heart of Jesus who is the patron saint of the city, and the Señor de la Sacristía a Christ made in ancient corn cane paste. Which is much visited and loved by the faithful.
• Its architectural beauty and history are other reasons why it has become an icon of the city.
• Inside this room because of its beauty, sound acoustics and ample space, appears as the scene for many artistic and cultural events like the International Organ Festival of Morelia, and International Music Festival of Morelia.