León's cathedral dominates the main plaza and is the most architecturally impressive building in the city. The Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Luz was built and expanded over several centuries, with the result that its interior shows a mix of baroque and neoclassical elements. The carved stone façade facing the plaza is particularly fine, with a level of detail that rewards close inspection.
The interior is large and ornate, with side chapels dedicated to local devotions and elaborate silver and gold ecclesiastical art. The cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of León, which gives it a significance in Mexican Catholic life beyond its size. Worth a visit both for the architecture and for a sense of the religious culture that defines this conservative Bajío city.