The last window in the atrium of the Metropolitan Cathedral reveals a stucco floor that forms part of a corridor bordered by walls of texonle stone and pink andesite, which was part of the Main Church or Old Cathedral.
In front of the main façade of the Metropolitan Cathedral, four archaeological windows display what appear to be the remains of the side chapels and sacristy that were attached to the north side of the Main Church or Old Cathedral of Mexico, built by Hernán Cortés in 1525. This first work, designed and executed by architect Martín de Sepúlveda, was completed in 1532 after several repairs and was finally demolished in 1626.
The fourth window measures 4.10 m long by 2.30 m wide and shows evidence of a corridor that forms part of the side constructions of the Main Church or First Cathedral. This corridor, with a stucco floor, runs east to west and is bounded by two walls made of tezontle stone and fragments of pink andesite joined with lime and sand mortar. Inside the corridor, on the south wall, traces of a mural made with white and red pigments depicting designs known as “half-scarves” can still be seen on the polished lime and sand coating.
Source: Raúl Barrera Rodríguez, director of the Urban Archaeology Program
