The Catedral Metropolitana Santa María de la Encarnación was consecrated by Pope Julius II in 1504 and built from 1514 to 1546.

The church combines multiple styles, including a baroque altar, a gothic ceiling, a plateresque limestone façade and twelve renaissance chapels, one for each Apostle. The remains of Cristobal Colón were held here for many years before being moved to the Faro Colón where they now rest.

Sitting in la Plaza Colón in the heart of the Zona Colonial, the cathedral stands out as the most significant structure in the area. You can appreciate its beauty while feeding pigeons in the plaza or enjoying a coffee or a drink from one of the open patios across the way.