 = Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral = 
 
 The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven ( Spanish : <unk> <unk> de la <unk> de la Santísima <unk> María a los <unk> ) is the largest cathedral in the Americas , and seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico . It is situated atop the former Aztec sacred precinct near the <unk> Mayor on the northern side of the Plaza de la <unk> in Downtown Mexico City . The cathedral was built in sections from 1573 to 1813 around the original church that was constructed soon after the Spanish conquest of <unk> , eventually replacing it entirely . Spanish architect Claudio de <unk> planned the construction , drawing inspiration from Gothic cathedrals in Spain . 
 The cathedral has four façades which contain portals flanked with columns and statues . The two bell towers contain a total of 25 bells . The tabernacle , adjacent to the cathedral , contains the baptistery and serves to register the parishioners . There are two large , ornate altars , a sacristy , and a choir in the cathedral . Fourteen of the cathedral 's sixteen chapels are open to the public . Each chapel is dedicated to a different saint or saints , and each was sponsored by a religious guild . The chapels contain ornate altars , altarpieces , <unk> , paintings , furniture and sculptures . The cathedral is home to two of the largest 18th @-@ century organs in the Americas . There is a crypt underneath the cathedral that holds the remains of many former archbishops . 
 Over the centuries , the cathedral has suffered damage . A fire in 1967 destroyed a significant part of the cathedral 's interior . The restoration work that followed uncovered a number of important documents and artwork that had previously been hidden . Although a solid foundation was built for the cathedral , the soft clay soil it is built on has been a threat to its structural integrity . <unk> water tables and accelerated sinking caused the structure to be added to the World Monuments Fund list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites . Reconstruction work beginning in the 1990s stabilized the cathedral and it was removed from the endangered list in 2000 . 
 After the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire , the conquistadors decided to build their church on the site of the <unk> Mayor of the Aztec city of <unk> to consolidate Spanish power over the newly conquered domain . Hernán Cortés and the other conquistadors used the stones from the destroyed temple of the Aztec god of war <unk> , principal deity of the <unk> , to build the church . Cortés ordered the original church 's construction after he returned from exploring what is now Honduras . <unk> Martín de <unk> was the first director of this project from <unk> to 1532 . Juan de Zumárraga , the first Bishop of the first See of the New World , established in the <unk> of New Spain , promoted this church 's completion . Zumárraga 's Cathedral was located in the northeast portion of what is now the cathedral . It had three naves separated by three <unk> columns . The central roof was <unk> with intricate carvings done by Juan <unk> <unk> and gilded by Francisco de <unk> and <unk> de la <unk> . The main door was probably of Renaissance style . The choir area had 48 seats made of <unk> wood crafted by Adrian <unk> and Juan <unk> . However , this church was soon considered inadequate for the growing importance of the capital of New Spain . 
 In 1544 , ecclesiastical authorities in <unk> ordered the creation of new and more <unk> cathedral . In 1552 , an agreement was reached whereby the cost of the new cathedral would be shared by the Spanish crown , <unk> and the Indians under the direct authority of the archbishop of New Spain . The cathedral was begun by being built around the existing church in 1573 . When enough of the cathedral was built to house basic functions , the original church was demolished to enable construction to continue . 
 
 = = Construction = = 
 
 The cathedral was constructed over a period of over two centuries , between 1573 and 1813 . Its design is a mixture of three architectural styles that predominated during the colonial period , Renaissance , Baroque and Neo @-@ classic . 
 Initial plans for the new cathedral were drawn up and work on the foundation began in <unk> . The decision to have the cathedral face south instead of east was made in <unk> . In the same year , construction commenced , working from the Gothic designs and models created by Claudio de <unk> and Juan Miguel de <unk> , inspired by cathedrals found in Spanish cities such as <unk> and <unk> . 
 Because of the muddy <unk> of the site , work on the foundation continued past the work on the walls to <unk> . In <unk> , work on the first of the cathedral 's chapels began and by 1615 , the cathedral 's walls reached to about half of their final height . Construction of the interior of the current cathedral began in 1623 and what is now the vestry was where Mass was conducted after the first church was finally torn down . 
 In 1629 , work was interrupted by flooding , over two metres in depth . Parts of the city were damaged , especially around the main plaza or <unk> . Because of such damage , this site was almost abandoned and a new cathedral project was begun in the hills of the <unk> area to the west . 
 Despite these problems , the project continued in its current location , and under the direction of Luis Gómez de <unk> , the interior was finished and consecrated in 1667 . The cathedral still lacked bell towers , the complete front facade , and many of the other features it has now at the beginning of the 18th century . 
 In 1787 , José Damian Ortiz de Castro was in charge of finishing work on the cathedral . He did most of the work on the bell towers , putting in most of the <unk> and capping them with roofs in the shape of bells . With his death in 1793 , he did not live to see the cathedral completed , and Manuel Tolsá finished the cathedral by adding the <unk> , the central front facade , the <unk> , and the statues of Faith , Hope and Charity at the top of the front facade . <unk> 's work was the last major construction to the cathedral and the appearance it had when he finished is the basic look the cathedral has today . 
 The cathedral faces south and is approximately 54 @.@ 5 metres ( 179 ft ) wide and 110 metres ( 360 ft ) long . It consists of two bell towers , a central dome , three main portals , five naves , 51 vaults , 74 arches and 40 columns . Inside the cathedral are five large altars , sixteen chapels , a choir area , a corridor , <unk> room , and sacristy . The cathedral has approximately 150 windows . 
 
 = = <unk> = = 
 
 
 = = = <unk> and portals = = = 
 
 The main facade of the cathedral faces south . The main portal is centered in the main facade and is the highest of the cathedral 's three portals . <unk> of Saint Peter and Paul the <unk> stand between the columns of the portal , while Saint Andrew and James the Just are depicted on the secondary doorway . In the center of this doorway is a high relief of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary , to whom the cathedral is dedicated . This image is flanked by images of Saint Matthew and Saint Andrew . The coat of arms of Mexico is above the doorway , with the eagle 's wings <unk> . There is a clock tower at the very top of the portal with statues representing Faith , Hope and Charity , which was created by sculptor Manuel Tolsá . 
 The west facade was constructed in 1688 and rebuilt in 1804 . It has a three @-@ section portal with images of the Four <unk> . The west portal has high reliefs depicting Jesus handing the Keys of Heaven to Saint Peter . 
 The east facade is similar to the west facade . The reliefs on the east portal show a ship carrying the four <unk> , with Saint Peter at the helm . The title of this relief is The ship of the Church sailing the seas of Eternity . 
 The northern facade , built during the 16th century in the Renaissance Herrera style , is oldest part of the cathedral and was named after Juan de Herrera , architect of the El Escorial monastery in Spain . While the eastern and western facades are older than most of the rest of the building , their third level has <unk> columns which are associated with the Baroque period . 
 All the high reliefs of the portals of the cathedral were inspired by the work of Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens . 
 
 = = = Bell towers = = = 
 
 The bell towers are the work of <unk> artist José <unk> Ortiz de Castro . They are capped with bell @-@ shaped roofs made of tezontle covered in <unk> , a white stone . Ortiz de Castro was in charge of the cathedral 's construction in the latter half of the 18th century until he died , unexpectedly . Manuel Tolsá of Valencia , who had built other notable buildings in Mexico City , was hired to finish the cathedral . At this point , the cathedral had already been 240 years in the making . He added the neo @-@ Classic structure housing the clock , the statues of the three theological virtues ( Faith , Hope , and Charity ) , the high <unk> surrounding the building , and the dome that rises over the transept . 
 The cathedral has 25 bells — eighteen hang in the east bell tower and seven in the west tower . The largest bell is named the Santa Maria de Guadalupe and weighs around 13 @,@ 000 kilograms ( 29 @,@ 000 lb ) . Other major bells are named the Doña Maria , which weighs 6 @,@ 900 kilograms ( 15 @,@ 200 lb ) , and La <unk> ( " the <unk> one " ) , named so because of its harsh tone . Doña Maria and La <unk> were placed in 1653 while the largest bell was placed later in 1793 . 
 The statues in the west tower are the work of José <unk> <unk> and represent Pope Gregory VII , Saint Augustine , <unk> of Seville , St. <unk> of <unk> , <unk> Xavier , and Saint Barbara . The statues in the east tower are by Santiago <unk> <unk> and depict Emilio , Rose of Lima , Mary ( mother of Jesus ) , <unk> , Jerome , Philip of Jesus , <unk> of Rome , and Isidore the <unk> . 
 In 1947 , a novice bell <unk> died in an accident when he tried to move one of the bells while standing under it . The bell swung back and hit him in the head , killing him instantly . The bell was then " punished " by removing the <unk> . In the following years , the bell was known as la <unk> ( " the punished one " ) , or la <unk> ( " the <unk> one " ) . In 2000 , the <unk> was reinstalled in the bell . 
 In October 2007 , a time capsule was found inside the stone ball base of a cross , in the southern bell tower of the cathedral . It was placed in 1742 , supposedly to protect the building from harm . The lead box was filled with religious artifacts , coins and <unk> and hidden in a hollow stone ball . The ball was marked with the date of 14 May 1791 , when the building 's topmost stone was laid . A new time capsule will be placed in the stone ball when it is closed again . 
 
 = = = Tabernacle = = = 
 
 Situated to the right of the main cathedral , the Metropolitan Tabernacle ( Spanish : <unk> <unk> ) was built by Lorenzo Rodríguez during the height of the Baroque period between <unk> and <unk> , to house the archives and vestments of the archbishop . It also functioned and continues to function as a place to receive Eucharist and register parishioners . 
 The first church built on the cathedral site also had a tabernacle , but its exact location is unknown . During the construction of the cathedral , the tabernacle was housed in what are now the Chapels of San Isidro and Our Lady of <unk> of Granada . However , in the 18th century , it was decided to build a structure that was separate , but still connected , to the main cathedral . It is constructed of tezontle ( a reddish porous volcanic rock ) and white stone in the shape of a Greek cross with its southern facade faces the <unk> . It is connected to the main cathedral via the Chapel of San Isidro . 
 The interiors of each wing have separate uses . In the west wing is the <unk> , in the north is the main altar , the main entrance and a <unk> area , separated by inside corner walls made of <unk> stone and tezontle . <unk> , a white stone , covers the walls and floors and the tezontle frames the doors and windows . At the crossing of the structure is an octagonal dome framed by arches that form curved triangles where they meet at the top of the dome . The principal altar is in the ornate Churrigueresque style and crafted by indigenous artist Pedro <unk> <unk> . It was inaugurated in 1829 . 
 The exterior of the Baroque styled tabernacle is almost entirely adorned with decorations , such as <unk> shaped niche shelves , floating <unk> and many <unk> . <unk> of fruits such as grapes and <unk> have been created to in the shape of ritual offerings , symbolizing the Blood of Christ and the Church . Among the floral elements , <unk> , <unk> , and various types of four @-@ <unk> flowers can be found , including the indigenous <unk> . 
 The tabernacle has two main outside entrances ; one to the south , facing the <unk> and the other facing east toward <unk> Street . The southern façade is more richly decorated than the east façade . It has a theme of <unk> the Eucharist with images of the Apostles , Church Fathers , saints who founded religious orders , martyrs as well as scenes from the Bible . <unk> reliefs can be found along with the <unk> reliefs , including a <unk> lion , and the eagle from the coat of arms of Mexico . The east facade is less ambitious , but contains figures from the Old Testament as well as the images of John <unk> and <unk> de Loyola . Construction dates for the phases of the tabernacle are also inscribed here . 
 
 = = Interior = = 
 
 
 = = = <unk> = = = 
 
 
 = = = = Altar of Forgiveness = = = = 
 
 The Altar of Forgiveness is located at the front of the central nave . It is the first aspect of the interior that is seen upon entering the cathedral . It was the work of Spanish architect <unk> Balbás , and represents the first use of the <unk> column ( an inverted triangle @-@ shaped <unk> ) in the Americas . 
 There are two stories about how the name of this altar came about . The first states that those condemned by the Spanish Inquisition were brought to the altar to ask for forgiveness in the next world before their execution . The second relates to painter Simon Pereyns , who despite being the author of many of the works of the cathedral , was accused of blasphemy . According to the story , while Pereyns was in jail , he painted such a beautiful image of the Virgin Mary that his crime was <unk> . 
 This altar was damaged by fire in January 1967 but has been completely restored . 
 
 = = = = Altar of the Kings = = = = 
 
 The Altar of the Kings was also the work of <unk> Balbás , in Mexican Baroque or Churrigueresque style . It was begun in <unk> by Balbás in cedar , and was gilded and finished by <unk> Martínez , debuting in 1737 . It is located at the back of the Cathedral , beyond the Altar of Forgiveness and the choir . This altar is 13 @.@ 75 metres ( 45 @.@ 1 ft ) wide , 25 metres ( 82 ft ) tall and 7 @.@ 5 metres ( 25 ft ) deep . Its size and depth gave rise to the nickname la <unk> <unk> ( " the golden cave " ) . 
 It takes its name from the statues of <unk> royalty which form part of its decoration , and is the oldest work in churrigueresque style in Mexico , taking 19 years to complete . At the bottom , from left to right , are six female royal saints : Saint Margaret of Scotland , Helena of Constantinople , Elisabeth of Hungary , Isabel of Portugal , Empress <unk> and Edith of <unk> . In the middle of the altar are six <unk> kings , four of whom are : <unk> a <unk> martyr , Henry II , Holy Roman Emperor , Edward the <unk> and Casimir of Poland . Above these four are Saints Louis of France and Ferdinand III of Castile . In between these kings an oil painting of the <unk> of the <unk> by Juan Rodriguez Juarez shows Jesus as the King of kings . The top portion features a painting of the Assumption of Mary as celestial queen flanked by oval bas reliefs , one of Saint Joseph carrying the infant Jesus and the other of Saint Teresa of <unk> with a <unk> in her hand and the Holy Spirit above her , inspiring her to write . Above this are figures of Jesus and Mary among sculptures of angels crowned with an image of God , the Father . 
 This altar has been under restoration since 2003 . 
 
 = = = Sacristy = = = 
 
 The Herrera door opens into the sacristy , the oldest part of the cathedral . It is a mixture of Renaissance and Gothic styles . 
 The walls hold large <unk> painted by <unk> de <unk> , such as The <unk> of Saint Michael , The Triumph of the Eucharist , The Church <unk> and the Church <unk> , and The Virgin of the Apocalypse . The Virgin of the Apocalypse depicts the vision of John of <unk> . Two other <unk> , Entering Jerusalem and The Assumption of the Virgin , painted by Juan Correa , are also here . An additional painting , attributed to <unk> Esteban <unk> , hangs in the Sacristy . 
 On the north wall , there is a niche that holds a statue of the <unk> with a Christ image sculpted in ivory . Behind this , is another mural that depicts the Juan Diego 's of Our Lady of Guadalupe . The Sacristy used to house Juan Diego 's <unk> , upon which the Virgin 's image purportedly appears , but after massive flooding in 1629 , it was removed from the Sacristy to better protect it . 
 A cabinet on the west wall of the Sacristy , under the Virgin of the Apocalypse painting , once held golden <unk> and cups trimmed with precious stones , as well as other <unk> . 
 In 1957 , The wooden floor and platform around the perimeter of the Sacristy were replaced with stone . 
 
 = = = Chapels = = = 
 
 The cathedral 's sixteen chapels were each assigned to a religious guild , and each is dedicated to a saint . Each of the two side naves contain seven chapels . The other two were created later on the eastern and western sides of the cathedral . These last two are not open to the public . The fourteen chapels in the east and west naves are listed below . The first seven are in the east nave , listed from north to south , and the last seven are in the west nave . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada ( Spanish : Capilla de Nuestra Señora de las <unk> de Granada ) was built in the first half of the 17th century , and originally served as the sacristy . It is a medieval @-@ style chapel with a ribbed vault and two relatively simple altarpieces . The narrow altarpiece contains an oval painting of Saint Raphael , Archangel and the young Tobias , a 16th century painting attributed to Flemish painter <unk> de <unk> . At the top of this altarpiece is a painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel , and above this is a painting of the Last Supper . At the back of the chapel is a churrigueresque painting of Our Lady of the Agonies of Granada . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Saint Isidore = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Saint Isidore ( Spanish : Capilla de San Isidro ) was originally built as an annex between 1624 and 1627 , and was once used as the baptistery . Its vault contains plaster casts representing Faith , Hope , Charity , and Justice , considered to be basic values in the Catholic religion . After the Tabernacle was built , it was converted into a chapel and its door was reworked in a churrigueresque style . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of the Immaculate Conception = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception ( Spanish : Capilla de la <unk> <unk> ) was built between 1642 and 1648 . It has a churrigueresque altarpiece which , due to the lack of columns , most likely dates from the 18th century . The altar is framed with <unk> — instead of columns — and a painting of the Immaculate Conception <unk> over it . The altar is surrounded by paintings by José de Ibarra relating to the Passion of Christ and various saints . The chapel also contains a canvas of Saint Christopher painted by Simon Pereyns in <unk> , and the <unk> by Baltasar de Echave <unk> , painted in 1618 . The altarpiece on the right side is also dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and was donated by the College of Saints Peter and Paul . This chapel holds the remains of Franciscan friar Antonio <unk> de <unk> who was <unk> in what is now the north of Mexico . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe ( Spanish : Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe ) was built in 1660 . It was the first baptistery of the cathedral and for a long time was the site for the <unk> of the Most Holy <unk> , which had many powerful benefactors . It is decorated in a 19th century neo @-@ classic style by the architect Antonio Gonzalez <unk> , director of the Academy of San Carlos . The main altarpiece is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe and the sides altars are dedicated to John the Baptist and San Luis <unk> respectively . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Our Lady of Antigua = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Our Lady of Antigua ( Spanish : Capilla de Nuestra Señora de La Antigua ) was sponsored and built between 1653 and 1660 by a <unk> of musicians and <unk> , which promoted devotion to this Virgin . Its altarpiece contains a painting of the Virgin , a copy of one found in the Cathedral of Seville . This copy was brought to New Spain by a merchant . Two other paintings show the birth of the Virgin and her presentation . Both were painted by <unk> Rodriguez Juárez . 
 
 = = = = = Chapel of Saint Peter = = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Saint Peter ( Spanish : Capilla de San Pedro ) was built between 1615 and 1620 , and contains three highly decorated Baroque altarpieces from the 17th century . The altar at the back is dedicated to Saint Peter , whose sculpture <unk> over the altar . It is surrounded by early 17th century paintings relating to his life , painted by Baltasar de Echave <unk> . To the right is an altarpiece dedicated to the Holy Family , with two paintings by Juan de Aguilera of Florence called The Holy Family in the workshop of Saint Joseph and Birth of the <unk> . The altarpiece to the left of the main altarpiece is dedicated to Saint <unk> of Jesus whose image also appears in the chapel 's window . It includes four paintings on sheets of metal that depict scenes from the birth of Jesus . Five oil paintings illustrate scenes from the life of Saint <unk> , and above this is a semi @-@ circular painting of the coronation of Mary . All these works were created in the 17th century by Baltasar de Echave y <unk> . 
 This chapel is home to the Niño <unk> ( Captive Child ) a Child Jesus figure that was brought to Mexico from Spain . It was sculpted in the 16th century by Juan Martínez <unk> in Spain and purchased by the cathedral . However , on its way to Veracruz , pirates attacked the ship it was on and sacked it . To get the image back , a large ransom was paid . Today , the image is in the Chapel of San Pedro or De las <unk> . Traditionally , the image has been petitioned by those seeking release from restrictions or traps , especially financial problems or drug addiction or <unk> . The cult to the Niño <unk> is considered to be " inactive " by <unk> . However , this particular image has made a comeback since 2000 as one to petition when a family member is abducted and held for ransom . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Christ and of the <unk> = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Christ and of the <unk> ( Spanish : Capilla del Santo <unk> y de las <unk> ) was built in 1615 and designed with ultra @-@ Baroque details which are often difficult to see in the poorly lit interior . It was originally known as the Christ of the <unk> . That name came from an image of Christ that was supposedly donated to the cathedral by Emperor Charles V. Over time , so many reliquaries were left on its main altar that its name was eventually changed . Of 17th century ornamentation , the main altarpiece alternates between carvings of rich foliage and small heads on its columns in the main portion and small sculptures of angels on its <unk> in the secondary portion . Its niches hold sculptures of saints framing the main body . Its <unk> is from the 17th century . The <unk> is finished with sculptures of angels , and also contains small 17th paintings of martyred saints by Juan de Herrera . Behind these paintings , hidden compartments contain some of the numerous reliquaries left here . Its main painting was done by Jose de Ibarra and dated 1737 . Surrounding the altar is a series of paintings on canvas , depicting the Passion of Christ by Jose <unk> , painted in the 17th century . On the right @-@ hand wall , an altar dedicated to the Virgin of the Confidence is decorated with numerous churrigueresque figurines <unk> away in niches , columns and top pieces . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of the Holy Angels and <unk> = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of the Holy Angels and <unk> ( Spanish : Capilla de los <unk> ) was finished in 1665 with Baroque altarpieces decorated with <unk> columns . It is dedicated to the Archangel Michael , who is depicted as a medieval knight . It contains a large main altarpiece with two smaller altarpieces both decorated by Juan Correa . The main altarpiece is dedicated to the seven <unk> , who are represented by sculptures , in niches surrounding images of Saint Joseph , Mary and Christ . Above this scene are the Holy Spirit and God the Father . The left @-@ hand altarpiece is of similar design and is dedicated to the Guardian Angel , whose sculpture is surrounded with pictures arranged to show the <unk> hierarchy . To the left of this , a scene shows Saint Peter being released from prison , and to the right , Saul , later Saint Paul , being knocked from his horse , painted by Juan Correa in 1714 . The right @-@ hand altarpiece is dedicated to the Guardian Angel of Mexico . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Saints Cosme and Damian = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Saints Cosme and Damian ( Spanish : Capilla de San Cosme y San <unk> ) was built because these two saints were commonly invoked during a time when New Spain suffered from the many diseases brought by the <unk> . The main altarpiece is Baroque , probably built in the 17th century . Oil paintings on wood contain scenes from physician saints , and are attributed to painter Sebastian Lopez <unk> , during the second half of the 17th century . The chapel contains one small altarpiece which came from the Franciscan church in <unk> , to the west of Mexico City , and is dedicated to the birth of Jesus . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Saint Joseph = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Saint Joseph ( Spanish : Capilla de San José ) , built between 1653 and 1660 , contains an image of Our Lord of <unk> , an image of Christ most likely from the 16th century . Its name was inspired from a time when many indigenous <unk> would give their <unk> in the form of <unk> beans . Churrigueresque in style and containing an <unk> statue of Saint Joseph , patron saint of New Spain , the main altarpiece is Baroque and is from the 18th century . This once belonged to the Church of Our Lady of <unk> . This altar contains statues and <unk> containing <unk> of the Apostles , but contains no paintings . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Our Lady of Solitude = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Our Lady of Solitude ( Spanish : Capilla de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad ) was originally built in honor of the workers who built the cathedral . It contains three Baroque altarpieces . The main altarpiece is supported by <unk> and small angels as <unk> , to uphold the base of the main body . It is dedicated to the Virgin of Solitude of Oaxaca , whose image appears in the center . The surrounding 16th century paintings are by Pedro Ramírez , and depict scenes from the life of Christ . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Saint Eligius = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Saint Eligius ( Spanish : Capilla de San <unk> ) , also known as the Chapel of the Lord of Safe <unk> ( Spanish : Capilla del <unk> del <unk> <unk> ) , was built by the first <unk> guild , who donated the images of the Conception and Saint Eligius to whom the chapel was formerly dedicated . The chapel was <unk> in the 19th century , and the image of Our Lord of Good <unk> was placed here , named thus , since many <unk> reported having their prayers answered quickly . The image is thought to be from the 16th century and sent as a gift from Charles V of Spain . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows ( Spanish : Capilla de Nuestra Señora de los <unk> ) , formerly known as the Chapel of the Lord 's Supper ( Spanish : Capilla de la Santa <unk> ) , was built in 1615 . It was originally dedicated to the Last Supper since a painting of this event was once kept here . It was later remodeled in a Neo @-@ classical style , with three altarpieces added by Antonio Gonzalez <unk> . The main altarpiece contains an image of the Virgin of Sorrows sculpted in wood and painted by Francisco <unk> , at the request of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico . On the left @-@ hand wall a ladder leads to a series of crypts which hold most of the remains of past archbishops of Mexico . The largest and grandest of these crypts contains the remains of Juan de <unk> , the first archbishop of Mexico . 
 
 = = = = Chapel of Saint Philip of Jesus = = = = 
 
 The Chapel of Saint Philip of Jesus ( Spanish : Capilla de San Felipe de <unk> ) was completed during one of the earliest stages of the construction of the cathedral . It is dedicated to Philip of Jesus , a friar and the only martyr from New Spain , who was <unk> in Japan . The chapel is topped with a Gothic @-@ style dome and has a Baroque altarpiece from the 17th century . A statue of the saint is located in a large niche in the altarpiece . The altar to the left is dedicated to Saint Rose of Lima , considered a protector of Mexico City . To the right is an urn which holds the remains of Agustín de <unk> , who briefly ruled Mexico in the 19th century . Next to this chapel is a baptismal font , in which it is believed Philip of Jesus was baptised . 
 
 = = = <unk> = = = 
 
 The cathedral has had perhaps a dozen organs over the course of its history . The earliest is mentioned in a report written to the king of Spain in 1530 . Few details survive of the earliest organs . <unk> names begin to appear at the end of the sixteenth century . The earliest disposition that survives is for the Diego de <unk> organ built in <unk> . The first large organ for Mexico City Cathedral was built in Madrid from 1689 to 1690 by Jorge de <unk> and installed by <unk> Sanz from 1693 to <unk> . It now has two , which were made in Mexico by José <unk> of Spain , and completed by 1736 , incorporating elements of the 17th century organ . They are the largest 18th century organs in the Americas ; they are situated above the walls of the choir , on the <unk> side ( east ) and the gospel side ( west ) . Both organs , damaged by fire in 1967 , were restored in 1978 . Because both organs had fallen into disrepair again , the gospel organ was re @-@ restored from 2008 @-@ 2009 by <unk> <unk> ; the restoration of the <unk> organ , also by <unk> , was completed in 2014 , and both organs are now playable . 
 
 = = = Choir = = = 
 
 The choir is where the priest and / or a choral group sings the <unk> . It is located in the central nave between the main door and the high altar , and built in a semicircular fashion , much like Spanish cathedrals . It was built by Juan de <unk> between <unk> and 1697 . Its sides contain 59 reliefs of various saints done in mahogany , <unk> , cedar and a native wood called <unk> . The <unk> that surrounds the choir was made in <unk> by <unk> <unk> in <unk> , China and placed in the cathedral in 1730 . 
 
 = = = <unk> = = = 
 
 The <unk> of the <unk> is located below the floor of the cathedral beneath the Altar of the Kings . The entrance to the crypt from the cathedral is guarded by a large wooden door behind which descends a winding yellow staircase . Just past the inner entrance is a <unk> @-@ style stone skull . It was incorporated as an offering into the base of a <unk> to Juan de Zumárraga , the first archbishop of Mexico . Zumárraga was considered to be a benefactor of the Indians , protecting them against the abuses of their Spanish overlords . There is also a natural @-@ sized sculpture of the archbishop atop the <unk> . 
 On its walls are dozens of bronze plaques that indicate the locations of the remains of most of Mexico City 's former archbishops , including Cardinal <unk> <unk> y <unk> . The floor is covered with small marble slabs covering niches containing the remains of other people . 
 The cathedral contains other crypts and niches where other religious figures are buried , including in the chapels . 
 
 = = Restoration = = 
 
 The sinking ground and seismic activity of the area have had an effect on the cathedral 's construction and current appearance . Forty @-@ two years were required simply to lay its foundation when it was first built , because even then the Spaniards recognized the danger of constructing such a huge monument in soft soil . However , for political reasons , much , but not all , of the cathedral was built over the remains of pre @-@ Hispanic structures , leading to uneven foundation from the beginning . 
 
 = = = Fire of 1967 = = = 
 
 On 17 January 1967 at 9 pm , a fire caused by an electrical short circuit caused extensive damage to the cathedral . On the Altar of Forgiveness , much of the structure and decoration were damaged including the loss of three paintings ; The Holy Face by Alonso López de Herrera , The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian by Francisco de <unk> and The Virgin of Forgiveness by Simon Pereyns . The choir section lost 75 of its 99 seats as well a painting by Juan Correa along with many stored books . The two cathedral organs were severely damaged with the partial melting of their pipes . <unk> by Rafael <unk> y <unk> , Juan Correa and Juan Rodriguez Juarez were damaged in other parts of the cathedral . After the fire , authorities recorded the damage but did nothing to try to restore what was damaged . <unk> discussions ensued among historians , architects and investigations centering on the moving of the Altar of Forgiveness , as well as eliminating the choir area and some of the <unk> . In 1972 , ecclesiastical authorities initiated demolition of the choir area without authorization from the Federal government , but were stopped . The government <unk> what could be saved and named Jaime Ortiz <unk> as director of the project to restore the cathedral to its original condition . Restoration work focused not only on repairing the damage ( using archived records and photographs ) , but also included work on a deteriorating foundation ( due to uneven sinking into the ground ) and problems with the towers . 
 The <unk> of Forgiveness and of the Kings were subject to extensive cleaning and restorative work . To replace the lost portions on the Altar of Forgiveness , several paintings were added ; Escape from Egypt by Pereyns , The Divine <unk> and The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian . The organs were dismantled with the pipes and inner workings sent to the Netherlands for repair , while the cases were restored by Mexican craftsmen with work lasting until 1977 . Reconstruction of the choir area began in 1979 using the same materials as existed before the fire . In addition , any statues in the towers that received more than 50 % damage from city pollution were taken out , with replicas created to replace them . Those with less damage were repaired . 
 Some interesting discoveries were made as restoration work occurred during the 1970s and early 1980s . 51 paintings were found and rescued from behind the Altar of Forgiveness , including works by Juan and Nicolas Rodriguez Juarez , Miguel Cabrera and José de Ibarra . Inside one of the organs , a copy of the nomination of Hernán Cortés as Governor General of New Spain ( <unk> ) was found . Lastly , in the wall of the central arch of the cathedral was found the burial place of Miguel <unk> , the first governor of Veracruz . 
 
 = = = Late 20th @-@ century work = = = 
 
 The cathedral , along with the rest of the city , has been sinking into the <unk> from the day it was built . However , the fact that the city is a <unk> with over 18 million people drawing water from underground sources has caused water tables to drop , and the sinking to accelerate during the latter half of the 20th century . Sections of the complex such as the cathedral and the tabernacle were still sinking at different rates , and the bell towers were tilting dangerously despite work done in the 1970s . For this reason , the cathedral was included in the 1998 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund . 
 Major restoration and foundation work began in the 1990s to stabilize the building . Engineers excavated under the cathedral between 1993 and 1998 . They dug shafts under the cathedral and placed shafts of concrete into the soft ground to give the edifice a more solid base to rest on . These efforts have not stopped the sinking of the complex , but they have corrected the tilting towers and ensured that the cathedral will sink uniformly . 
 
 = = Cultural value = = 
 
 The cathedral has been a focus of Mexican cultural identity , and is a testament to its colonial history . <unk> Manuel Rivera <unk> reported that the cathedral was built on the site sacred precinct of the <unk> and with the very stones of their temples so that the Spaniards could lay claim to the land and the people . Hernán Cortés supposedly laid the first stone of the original church personally . 
 It once was an important religious center , used exclusively by the prominent families of New Spain . In 1864 , during the Second Mexican Empire , Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and Empress Charlotte of Belgium ( later known as <unk> and <unk> of Mexico ) were crowned at the cathedral after the magnificent arrival to the head city of their reign . 
 Located on the <unk> it has , over time , been the focus of social and cultural activities , most of which have occurred in the 20th and 21st centuries . The cathedral was closed for four years while President <unk> <unk> <unk> attempted to enforce Mexico 's anti @-@ religious laws . Pope Pius XI closed the church , ordering priests to cease their public religious duties in all Mexican churches . After the Mexican government and the papacy came to terms and major renovations were performed on the cathedral , it reopened in 1930 . 
 The cathedral has been the scene of several protests both from the church and to the church , including a protest by women over the Church 's <unk> for women not to wear mini @-@ skirts and other provocative clothing to avoid rape , and a <unk> vigil to protest against <unk> in Mexico . The cathedral itself has been used to protest against social issues . Its bells rang to express the <unk> 's opposition to the Supreme Court upholding of Mexico City 's <unk> of abortion . 
 Probably the most serious recent event occurred on 18 November 2007 , when sympathizers of the Party of the Democratic Revolution attacked the cathedral . About 150 protesters stormed into Sunday Mass chanting <unk> and knocking over pews . This caused church officials to close and lock the cathedral for a number of days . The cathedral reopened with new security measures , such as bag searches , in place . 
 
 = = = Gallery = = = 
 
 
 