The cathedral of Our Lady of Candelaria sits on the east side of Plaza Colón, facing the city hall across the square. The current building dates from 1922, the third or fourth on the site after the originals were destroyed by the 1918 earthquake. It is a relatively restrained neoclassical design, white stucco with a single off-centre bell tower, but the proportions are confident and the interior is full of light.
The cathedral is the seat of the Diocese of Mayagüez, which covers the entire west of Puerto Rico. The Feast of Candelaria, on 2 February, fills the plaza with bonfires and music — the largest religious festival in town.