Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, 16th-century Catholic cathedral in Tlaxcala de Xicoténcatl, Mexico
Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral is a 16th-century religious building in Tlaxcala featuring a Renaissance-style facade with an alfiz architectural detail. Inside, a single nave extends beneath an expansive wooden ceiling rendered in Mudéjar style, which defines the entire interior space.
Construction took place between 1530 and 1536, and the building originally served as the Temple of Saint Francis of Assisi before its redesignation as the Cathedral. This transformation marked a shift in the church's administrative importance as Spanish religious institutions consolidated their presence in the region.
The main altar displays a Baroque retablo showing the baptism of Señor Maxixcatzin, with historical figures Cortés and La Malinche depicted as godparents. This scene visibly connects Spanish colonial power with indigenous leadership, revealing how religious art here merged spiritual and political relationships.
The building sits on Calzada de San Francisco and opens daily, allowing visitors to step inside and explore the interior at their own pace. Its central location makes it easily accessible, and you can combine a visit here with other nearby sites in the historic district.
Inside the Chapel of Christ of the Precious Blood sits a figure of Christ made from corn dough, a rare religious artwork. This unusual representation in organic material shows how local craft traditions merged with Catholic religious imagery.
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