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Cuernavaca's Cathedral
Country: Mexico.

Founded by Franciscan friars in the XVI century. Construction beginning 1529 and finished in 1552. It was built in two construction stages one from 1529 to 1540 where the Open Chapel, the Convent and the beginning of the Church are built; and from 1550 to 1560 where there are improvements to the altarpieces of the church.

The Patroness of the Cathedral is "La Asunción de María". This Franciscan convent is named the Cathedral of Cuernavaca in the year of 1891.

This Convent-Fortress has all the typical architectural elements of the convents of the XVI century: Atrium, Wall crowned by Merlons, Open Chapel, Atrium Cross and the Convent. We will make a tour through the most important characteristics of each one of these elements.

The Atrium is the most important public-religious space of the convent in the XVI century, it is the place where the natives congregated to listen the masses in Latin, Spanish and even náhuatl from the Open Chapel. But besides having a religious function it was also a space with fiscal-administrative functions. It was the place where the natives paid their tributes, where the community work was organized and later on it was the place where the Spanish carried out the distribution of indians.

The Atrium Cross that we see today in the Atrium of the Cathedral of Cuernavaca is not the original of the XVI century.

Surrounding the whole Atrium there is the Wall crowned with Merlons, expression of a medieval tradition, the function that some believe with a defensive reason against natives' attacks (of which there is no historic registration, at least not in the center of Mexico) it could have been more a symbolic value for the friars that carried out a crusade for the evangelism.

One enters the Convent going by the Open Chapel, before entering observe the fresco over the wooden door, this fresco is from the XVI century. This fresco was painted by indigenous hands that had learned this technique of mural painting. Twelve Franciscan friars can be seen with the Pope Inocencio celebrating the foundation of the Franciscan order. At the right superior side a kneeling native is observed.

When passing this door we are in the Cloister of the Convent: a square central patio, surrounded with arcades in the inferior and superior levels. On the second level we can find the cells of the friars and in the lower level we can find: the cellar, the library, "the office", among others. There exists today three elements to observe in the corridors that surround the central patio. A small painted altarpiece of blue background that schematizes us a mass. A second element, a fresco where the friars and devout persons of fame of the order are drawn. In third element, not to miss San Cristobal's statue carrying the boy on his shoulders and together with this, the world. It is a piece made in wood dating from the XVIII century.

The Open Chapel crowned by merlons and in the superior central part (where you see an empty space among the merlons) the pulpit from where the masses were officiated to the parishioners.

The Open Chapel is an architectural element only developed by the friars in Mexico. The function was to be able to carry out the masses outdoors, but having a roof on the sacred one. The reasons to have developed these structures could be two main: the Indian population was very big, and the natives were also more accustomed to carry out their religious activities in the exterior.

To finish our tour, enter the main church of the conventual's complex and admire the frescoes inside. On the north wall we will see the mission Jesuit to the Japan (it is believed that these Franciscan friars met the Jesuits that were murdered in the Japan, since they went through Cuernavaca in their way to Acapulco from where they left for oriental lands), and their martyrdom.

You will also be able to see the baptismal pile and their great size shows the urgency to baptize (supposing to convert with it) the thousands of present natives in what we now call Cuernavaca.

To visit this Convent of "La Asunción de María" go to the downtown of Cuernavaca. From Mexico City you can take a bus from the Terminal Taxqueña.

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Mexico: Colonial Sites
	Cuernavaca's Cathedral Country: Mexico. Founded by Franciscan friars in the XVI century. Construction beginning 1529 and finished in 1552. It was built in two construction stages one from 1529 to 1540 where the Open Chapel, the Convent and the beginning of the Church are built; and from 1550 to 1560 where there are improvements to the altarpieces of the church. The Patroness of the Cathedral is "La Asunción de María". This Franciscan convent is named the Cathedral of Cuernavaca in the year of 1891. This Convent-Fortress has all the typical architectural elements of the convents of the XVI century: Atrium, Wall crowned by Merlons, Open Chapel, Atrium Cross and the Convent. We will make a tour through the most important characteristics of each one of these elements. The Atrium is the most important public-religious space of the convent in the XVI century, it is the place where the natives congregated to listen the masses in Latin, Spanish and even náhuatl from the Open Chapel. But besides having a religious function it was also a space with fiscal-administrative functions. It was the place where the natives paid their tributes, where the community work was organized and later on it was the place where the Spanish carried out the distribution of indians. The Atrium Cross that we see today in the Atrium of the Cathedral of Cuernavaca is not the original of the XVI century. Surrounding the whole Atrium there is the Wall crowned with Merlons, expression of a medieval tradition, the function that some believe with a defensive reason against natives' attacks (of which there is no historic registration, at least not in the center of Mexico) it could have been more a symbolic value for the friars that carried out a crusade for the evangelism. One enters the Convent going by the Open Chapel, before entering observe the fresco over the wooden door, this fresco is from the XVI century. This fresco was painted by indigenous hands that had learned this technique of mural painting. Twelve Franciscan friars can be seen with the Pope Inocencio celebrating the foundation of the Franciscan order. At the right superior side a kneeling native is observed. When passing this door we are in the Cloister of the Convent: a square central patio, surrounded with arcades in the inferior and superior levels. On the second level we can find the cells of the friars and in the lower level we can find: the cellar, the library, "the office", among others. There exists today three elements to observe in the corridors that surround the central patio. A small painted altarpiece of blue background that schematizes us a mass. A second element, a fresco where the friars and devout persons of fame of the order are drawn. In third element, not to miss San Cristobal's statue carrying the boy on his shoulders and together with this, the world. It is a piece made in wood dating from the XVIII century. The Open Chapel crowned by merlons and in the superior central part (where you see an empty space among the merlons) the pulpit from where the masses were officiated to the parishioners. The Open Chapel is an architectural element only developed by the friars in Mexico. The function was to be able to carry out the masses outdoors, but having a roof on the sacred one. The reasons to have developed these structures could be two main: the Indian population was very big, and the natives were also more accustomed to carry out their religious activities in the exterior. To finish our tour, enter the main church of the conventual's complex and admire the frescoes inside. On the north wall we will see the mission Jesuit to the Japan (it is believed that these Franciscan friars met the Jesuits that were murdered in the Japan, since they went through Cuernavaca in their way to Acapulco from where they left for oriental lands), and their martyrdom. You will also be able to see the baptismal pile and their great size shows the urgency to baptize (supposing to convert with it) the thousands of present natives in what we now call Cuernavaca. To visit this Convent of "La Asunción de María" go to the downtown of Cuernavaca. From Mexico City you can take a bus from the Terminal Taxqueña.