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The Cathedral Of Oaxaca

The Gothic facade incorporates many indigenous details (enlarge photo)

Bordering the northern side of the Zocalo, the Cathedral of Oaxaca was built three centuries ago by the Spaniards in their quest to export Catholicism to what was then called New Spain.

It's greenish gothic facade sports a profusion of patterns and decorations, many unique to this region, while its burly twin bell towers cast a peaceful shadow over the plaza.

Inside the Cathedral

Entering the Cathedral, the profusion of colors and materials inside contrasts sharply with the more somber facade. Most impressive is its imposing Greek marble altar, topped by a spectacular bronze virgin, symbolically raising her arms toward the Heavens represented by the dove and sunburst on the ceiling, flanked by paintings of St. Peter and St. Paul on each side.

Each of the Cathedral's 14 chapels illustrates an event of the bible

Though not the largest church in town, the cathedral has no less than 14 chapels illustrating various scenes from the Bible and historical events. For religious scholars, the most important of these chapels is the one displaying the famous Holy Cross of Huatulco, alleged to have been given centuries ago to indigenous tribes, by a white-robed bearded man coming from the sea.