Santo Domingo Church and Convent, Oaxaca
Of the 27 churches in Oaxaca, none can equal the splendor of the Iglesia de Santo Domingo's interior. Over 12 million pesos were spent on the church; its simple facade hides an interior sparkling with gilded walls and ornate statues.
When the sun shines through the yellow stained-glass window, it casts a golden glow over the whole interior and looks like a Baroque vision of heaven.
History
Construction on the Santo Domingo Church began in 1572 by Dominican friars and completed over 200 years later. It contains the work of all the best artists of that period. The monastery adjoining the church was active from 1608 to 1857, after which the buildings were turned over to military use.
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 an excellent regional museum. A complete restoration of the church and monastery was completed in 1999.
What to See
Inside the church, ornate plaster statues and colored stucco flowers set off the extravagantly gilded walls and ceiling, forming a spectacular combination of Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Moorish styles.
On the south side of the church is the golden Capilla del Rosario, which features numerous paintings of saints and Madonnas in various sizes. Another highlight is the beautifully painted family tree of St. Dominic on the low ceiling just inside the entrance.
The complex of buildings includes a substantial sanctuary and an extensive system of courtyards, cloisters and rooms that now house the Centro Cultural Santo Domingo. The monastery garden is now an Ethnobotanical Garden, containing a large collection plants native to the region.
The entrance to both church and museum is on a wide plaza that acts as a centre for local fiestas and other events.
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of Santo Domingo. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. You can explore all of Oaxaca from space on our Oaxaca Map.
Quick Facts
| Location: | Corner of Gurrión and Alcalá, Oaxaca, Mexico |
| Phone: | No phone |
| Hours: | Daily 7am-2pm and 4-11pm; closed Mondays. |
| Cost: | Free |
Sources: Eyewitness Travel Guide to Mexico, Frommer's Mexico 2005 and Wikipedia.
