The cathedral faces the Plaza de la Independencia, the heart of the historic centre, and its twin towers and pale limestone façade are the defining image of Campeche. Construction began in 1540, just 14 years after the Spanish founded the city, and continued across two centuries — which explains the layered architectural character of the building, where Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Classical elements sit alongside each other.
The interior is lighter and more austere than many Mexican colonial churches. The carved wooden choir stalls are particularly fine, and the altar retablo incorporates the original colonial elements. The plaza outside the cathedral is the social centre of the historic city — benches, food vendors, and the steady flow of local life that gives Campeche its unhurried atmosphere.