Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe anchors the central plaza in the Zona Centro, its twin towers rising above the low skyline of downtown Nuevo Laredo. Built in the colonial style typical of northern Mexico, it is the oldest institution in a city that is otherwise all commerce and motion.

Inside, painted murals and carved altarpieces depict scenes from the life of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Early morning Mass draws worshippers from both sides of the border — Laredo, Texas is a short walk across the international bridge. The plaza in front offers a moment of genuine calm in a city that rarely slows down.

things to do sight
A story
The cathedral sits on the same plaza where in 1755 Spanish settlers formally established the town of Nuevo Laredo. The original church was a modest adobe structure; the present twin-towered building dates from the late 19th century and replaced successive earlier structures destroyed by flood and neglect.