Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, Oaxaca, Spanish colonial cathedral in central Oaxaca, Mexico
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption has a light grey stone facade in three tiers, with three dark arched entryways, the central one widest. Paired columns separate niches holding statues, and carved relief panels sit above the doors. Two side towers with bells and small domed tops flank the facade, which is crowned by a curved pediment with a cross.
Construction began around 1535 with a modest three-nave church roofed in straw; the Temple of San Juan de Dios served as the cathedral church meanwhile. Earthquakes in the 16th and 18th centuries forced repeated rebuildings, and the most recent reconstruction ran from 1702 to 1733, when the cathedral was consecrated on 12 July. The towers were destroyed by the 1931 earthquake and later replaced.
The cathedral is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, whose stone image stands on clouds and cherubim in the second tier of the facade. In the south wing hangs a clock donated to Oaxaca by King Fernando VII. The last chapel on the left holds the Señor del Rayo, and the second on the right keeps the remains of the Cross of Huatulco.
The building is open for visitors during daylight hours, with religious services held at scheduled times and photography permitted inside. Visitors should wear respectful clothing and keep in mind that active ceremonies may restrict access to certain areas.
The baroque pipe organ on the west wall of the quire was built locally, with parts dating to 1711–1712, and was restored in 1997. The towers seen today are not the originals: they were destroyed in the 1931 earthquake and rebuilt afterwards.
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