It did not take long for the authorities to replace rebel archbishop Cortés y Larraz, who left in favor of Cayetano Francos y Monroy, who arrived in late 1779 and took over the building projects of the religious settlements in the new city.
 Architect Marco Ibáñez, artist Antonio Bernasconi -who arrived from Spain in July 1777- and engineer Joaquín de Isasi were in charge of the blueprints for the new Cathedral and after two years got them approved by Royal Decree of 6 November 1779, which arrived in Guatemala in February 1780.
Francos y Monroy, gave his blessing to the new location and placed the first stone of the Cathedral in 1782.

Work began officially on 13 August 1783 and lasted until 1815, when the sculpture of Our Lay of Perpetual Help was transported in procession from Santa Rosa and was placed in the main altar of its new chapel in the Cathedral, where it has remained since then.
Most of the main section of the church was completed by 1815, and the new organ was installed, along with numerous other sculptors that were moved in a lengthy procession.
 The church was officially opened with a Te Deum.

In 1816, the gold from the old altars was removed and then used to create the new ones and in 1821 began construction of the two east side towers, which were the minor bell towers that faced the city cemetery which was east of the Cathedral in those days.
In 1826 east, south and west doors were installed, as well as the frames for the windows in the subterranean crypts.

On 23 July 1860, a new altar made of Carrara marble was put in place of the old wooden altar, which was moved to Santa Rosa chapel.

The towers were completed in 1867 and the bronze from the San José Fort cannons was used to build the main bell, which was blessed during the first Vatican Council in 1871, and which became known as "La Chepona" since then.
It did not take long for the authorities to replace rebel archbishop Cortés y Larraz, who left in favor of Cayetano Francos y Monroy, who arrived in late 1779 and took over the building projects of the religious settlements in the new city.  Architect Marco Ibáñez, artist Antonio Bernasconi -who arrived from Spain in July 1777- and engineer Joaquín de Isasi were in charge of the blueprints for the new Cathedral and after two years got them approved by Royal Decree of 6 November 1779, which arrived in Guatemala in February 1780. Francos y Monroy, gave his blessing to the new location and placed the first stone of the Cathedral in 1782.
Work began officially on 13 August 1783 and lasted until 1815, when the sculpture of Our Lay of Perpetual Help was transported in procession from Santa Rosa and was placed in the main altar of its new chapel in the Cathedral, where it has remained since then. Most of the main section of the church was completed by 1815, and the new organ was installed, along with numerous other sculptors that were moved in a lengthy procession.  The church was officially opened with a Te Deum.
In 1816, the gold from the old altars was removed and then used to create the new ones and in 1821 began construction of the two east side towers, which were the minor bell towers that faced the city cemetery which was east of the Cathedral in those days. In 1826 east, south and west doors were installed, as well as the frames for the windows in the subterranean crypts.
On 23 July 1860, a new altar made of Carrara marble was put in place of the old wooden altar, which was moved to Santa Rosa chapel.
The towers were completed in 1867 and the bronze from the San José Fort cannons was used to build the main bell, which was blessed during the first Vatican Council in 1871, and which became known as "La Chepona" since then.
Cathedral of Guatemala City