The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption stands on the north side of the Plaza de Armas, its baroque facade dominating the corner. Construction began in the 16th century and continued in stages; the current form is largely 18th-century, with later modifications. The tower was added relatively recently and does not entirely match the rest, but the facade is one of the more handsome colonial religious buildings in Veracruz state.
Inside, the cathedral is quietly impressive: good light through the high windows, colonial-era religious paintings, and a wooden ceiling that has survived centuries of Gulf humidity better than you might expect. It is in daily use as a parish church, which gives it a lived-in quality that heavily restored colonial churches sometimes lack. A visit takes twenty minutes and is a natural addition to a walk around the plaza.