Claudio de Arciniega

architect

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Claudio de Arciniega was an architect who began the design of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City in the 16th century. While the cathedral's layout is Classical, it features striking Baroque decorations. This style, known as Churrigueresque in Mexico, is characterized by its elaborate ornamentation, often using estipes (foreshortened columns) and intricate details to create a sense of awe and wonder. Arciniega's work contributed to the foundation of a style that would define much of Mexico's religious architecture for centuries.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Latin American architecture
Eighteenth-century architecture in Mexico
…in the 16th century by Claudio de Arciniega, is Classical in its layout, with extraordinary fragments of an exuberant Baroque decoration applied on the surface. The cathedral’s Altar of the Kings (1718–37), by Jerónimo de Balbás, began a formal type that would be applied until the end of the 18th…
Read More
…in the 16th century by Claudio de Arciniega, is Classical in its layout, with extraordinary fragments of an exuberant Baroque decoration applied on the surface. The cathedral’s Altar of the Kings (1718–37), by Jerónimo de Balbás, began a formal type that would be applied until the end of the 18th…
Read More