Guadalajara's Cathedral

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The cathedral's iconic yellow neo-Gothic towers were reconstructed in the 1850s after an earthquake destroyed the original 17th-century towers.

2. 2

   The remains of Saint Innocent, a Roman child martyr from the 4th century, are kept in the cathedral in a wax-covered effigy.

3. 3

   The cathedral is flanked by four distinct plazas—Plaza de Armas, Plaza Guadalajara, Plaza de la Liberación, and Rotonda de los Jaliscienses Ilustres—forming a cross shape.

4. 4

   The Murillo painting 'The Assumption of the Virgin' is housed in the sacristy, attributed to the Spanish master Bartolomé Esteban Murillo.

5. 5

   The building survived a significant earthquake in 1818 that collapsed the previous towers and the original dome.

Overview

Guadalajara's Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guadalajara. Construction began in 1561 on orders of King Philip II of Spain and took over sixty years to complete. The architecture features a blend of Neoclassical, Baroque, Gothic, and Mudejar styles due to long-term reconstruction following earthquakes. Its most distinctive exterior features are the twin neo-Gothic spires, which were rebuilt in the 19th century after the originals collapsed. Inside, the cathedral houses the relics of Saint Innocent, a young Roman martyr whose remains are displayed in a glass casket. The interior contains a significant 18th-century pipe organ brought from France and various neoclassical altars. The building occupies an entire city block, flanked by four public plazas that represent the cross shape of the city's historic layout. It serves as a focal point for religious processions and civic ceremonies in the heart of the state of Jalisco.

Insider tips

• Visit the crypts located beneath the altar to see the tombs of former bishops and cardinals.

• Walk around the entire perimeter of the building to see the four distinct architectural facades facing the four surrounding plazas.

• Look up at the ceiling to observe the ribbed Gothic vaults, which are rare in Mexican colonial architecture.