Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
The Church and former monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (Spanish: Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán) is a Baroque ecclesiastical building complex in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico. The complex includes a substantial sanctuary and an extensive system of courtyards, cloisters and rooms that formerly constituted the monastery.[1]
| Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán | |
|---|---|
 Santo Domingo de Guzmán | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Location | |
| Location | Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico |
| Geographic coordinates | 17°03′56″N 96°43′23″W |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Latin Cross |
| Style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1572 |
| Completed | 1731 |
| Materials | Cantera |
History
As its name implies, the church and monastery were founded by the Dominican Order. Begun in 1575, they were constructed over a period of 200 years, between the 16th and 18th centuries. The monastery was active from 1608 to 1857. In the period of the revolutionary wars, the buildings were turned over to military use, and from 1866 to 1902 they served as a barracks. The church was restored to religious use in 1938, but the monastery was made available to the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca. In 1972 it became a regional museum, and in 1993 the decision was taken to undertake a full restoration. This was completed in 1999. It is an exceptional example of conservation architecture. The architect responsible was Juan Urquiaga.
The church has also been fully restored. Its highly decorated interior includes use of more than 60,000 sheets of 23.5-karat gold leaf.[2]
Architecture
The facade of the church depicts the founder of the Dominican order - cradling a church in his hand.
The ceiling upon entering the church shows the family tree of the order's founder.[3]
Museum
The rooms that formerly constituted the monastery now house the Cultural Centre of Oaxaca, which was founded with the help of Oaxacan-born artist Francisco Toledo.[4] This museum includes an important collection of pre-Columban artefacts, among them the contents of Tomb 7 from the nearby Zapotec site of Monte Albán. The former monastery garden is now an ethnobotanical garden, containing a large collection of plants native to the region.[1][5]
The entrance to both church and museum is across a wide plaza that acts as a center for local fiestas and other entertainments. It is located about half a kilometre north of the central squares of the city, the Zócalo and the Alameda, and the connecting street is pedestrianised, so it is a popular place for both tourists and local residents to stroll.
Additional Images
Facade of Church of Santo Domingo
Ceiling of Church of Santo Domingo
Ceiling Detail, Church of Santo Domingo
Cloister in the former monastery. Note the restoration of the painted decoration
The former monastery garden, now maintained as an ethnobotanical garden.
Santo Domingo Church and Monastery Complex
Interior, Church of Santo Domingo
Dome decoration
References
- "Iglesia de Santo Domingo". LonelyPlanet.com. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- Kuntz, Laurie. "25 Reasons We Love Oaxaca". Budget Travel Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
- "The Church and former monastery of Santo Domingo de Guzmán - Oaxaca, Mexico - Baroque Architecture on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
- Gross, Jamie. "Oaxaca: Authentic Mexico". Town and Country Travel Magazine. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- "Jardín Etnobotánico in Oaxaca". LonelyPlanet.com. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
- Richard D. Perry. Exploring Colonial Oaxaca: The Art and Architecture. Santa Barbara, CA: Espada Press, 2006