Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City's Zocalo
About this photograph
- Creator
- Margery H. Freeman
- Date created
- July 1970
- Location
- Mexico City, Mexico
- License
- This photograph copyright ©2007. Terms of use
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- Search LEARN NC for Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico, Mexico City, and Zocalo.
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Numerous towers of the Metropolitan Cathedral rise from the streets. Several pedestrians and cars can be seen on the streets in the foreground.
The Zócalo is Mexico City’s central plaza. Its official name is the Plaza de la Constitución, but everyone calls it the Zócalo. The square plaza was also the center of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán. In fact, the Spanish Conquistadors built the city of Mexico City on top of the ruins of the defeated Aztec city. Even today Aztec ruins and artifacts continue to be uncovered.
The Zócalo is the home of Mexico City’s most historical and important colonial buildings. The National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Supreme Court of Justice all surround the Zócalo.
The Metropolitan Cathedral was constructed in 1667, although parts of it were not finished until 1812. It is one of the largest cathedrals in the Western hemisphere.
