Cuernavaca Cathedral, UNESCO World Heritage Cathedral in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Cuernavaca Cathedral stands within a walled compound south of the main plaza, with plain facades built from solid stone that resembles a fortress. The site houses a Museum of Religious Art displaying more than 90 works spanning several centuries.
Franciscan missionaries began construction in 1529, using stones from Cuauhnáhuac ruins, and completed the structure by 1534. The building was created to convert the indigenous population to Christianity.
The walls display a large mural from the 17th century showing the crucifixion of missionaries in Japan, discovered during restoration work in 1957. This artwork tells a story of distant lands and religious sacrifice that remains visible to visitors today.
Visitors can explore the grounds on foot and discover the two additional churches on site—the pink Templo de Tercera Orden and the yellow Capilla del Carmen. Early morning or late afternoon visits work best, as the sun hits the stone walls less intensely at these times.
Inside, there is an ancient stone baptismal font near the main portal that has remained since the earliest days of the site. This plain yet meaningful object shows how baptisms were performed when Christianity first spread through the region.
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