Hernan Cortes, a Spanish explorer, arrived in Mexico in 1519.  By 1521 he had captured Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital and had began constructing a new city on the site of the Aztec city.  The city plan was dictated by the Spanish government to emphasize their new control.

The heart of the city focused on the public square.  The cathedral and government buildings are located here.  The architectural styles found in Mexico City and throughout what would become Mexico display their multi-cultural heritage.  Among the Spanish conquerors were people from Italy, France, Flanders and other parts of Europe.  The current styles, such as Baroque, were given a distinct appearance due to the many influences, not the least of which was the inclusion of Aztec motifs.

The first cathedral lasted only seven years, 1525-32.  This structured included Mudejar elements.  Mudejar is an artistic style that is based on Hispano-Islamic art.  It survived even after the Muslims were expelled from Spain in 1492. (See the pages on the Cordoba Mosque for more information about Spain and Islamic architecture.)

Construction on the new cathedral (above, left) began in 1563.  The facade retains elements of the European Renaisance in that it is made up of units arranged symetrically.  The building was not completed until 1813 and later stylistic developments are apparent.  A local influence was the desire for highly ornamented spaces.  This begins to appear on the facade but reaches its height in the interior.