Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids 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
Architecture
Architectural type	Latin Cross
Architectural style	Baroque
Groundbreaking	1572
Completed	1724
Materials	Cantera

Main cloister

Colonial interior of the church

Altarpiece

The Church and Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is a famous building in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico. It is a great example of Baroque style from the time when Spain ruled Mexico.

Building work started in 1551. The city gave land to the Dominican Order, a group of Catholic priests, to build a convent. The main parts of the complex were opened in 1608, but it took much longer to finish everything.

Over the years, the Convent of Santo Domingo has seen many important events in Mexican history. It was used as a military storage place and even a stable. At one point, it was closed for Catholic services. Later, it was given back to the Church.

In 1979, John Paul II, the leader of the Catholic Church, visited the building. Later, in 1987, the church and the historic center of Oaxaca became a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This means it's a very special place that needs to be protected.

A Look at History
What You'll Find Inside
Additional Images
See also

A Look at History

How It All Began

The first Dominican priests came to Oaxaca in 1528. Around the same time, the area became a town called Villa de Antequera. In 1551, the town council gave the Dominicans land to build a convent. This land was near the Cerro del Fortín hill.

The Dominicans were supposed to finish building within 20 years. But by 1572, not much had been built. So, the city council gave them 30 more years. In return, the Dominicans helped pay for the city's water supply. Building continued slowly because the Order did not have a lot of money.

Finishing the Building

Two earthquakes in the early 1600s damaged another convent in Oaxaca. This made the Dominicans work faster on Santo Domingo. Four years later, in 1608, the convent complex officially opened.

In 1623, the building became a university. Students could study philosophy and theology there. The church part was finally finished in 1666, including all its decorations. The last big change happened in 1724. That's when the Chapel del Rosario was built.

Times of Change

Starting in 1812, the Church of Santo Domingo and its convent were used by different armies. These armies were fighting for control of Mexico. It was used during the Mexican War of Independence. Later, it was used by different groups throughout the 1800s.

In 1859, a law called the Iglesias Law was put in place. This law meant the convent and church were used by the Mexican Army. In 1866, Catholic services were stopped by the government. But in 1902, President Porfirio Díaz gave the building back to the Church.

What You'll Find Inside

The Church's Design

The front of the church has three main parts. At the very top, you can see statues of Saint Dominic and Saint Hippolitus. They are holding a small temple, and above them, the Holy Spirit is shown.

The two bell towers have arched openings. Each side has four columns with special grooves. Their domes are covered with colorful azulejo tiles. These tiles are a type of glazed ceramic. Small cups with lanterns sit on top of the domes.

Church and Museum

Santo Domingo is a large complex. It includes the church itself, which is still used for religious services today. The attached convent building now holds the Regional Museum of Oaxaca.

The museum has many historical items from Oaxaca. One of the most important collections comes from Monte Albán. These are artistic objects found by Alfonso Caso in Tomb 7. They belonged to the ancient Mixtec culture.

Another part of the old convent is now the Oaxaca Ethnobotanical Garden. This garden has many different plant species that are native to the state of Oaxaca. It's a great place to learn about local plants.

The Plaza and Surroundings

To get into the convent or the church, you cross a small square. This square is often used for local festivals and other fun events. The Plaza de Santo Domingo is about half a kilometer from the city's main square.

A cobblestone street called the Macedonio Alcalá Tourist Corridor connects the two squares. It's a very popular street for tourists and locals to walk along. When the sun sets, the whole church lights up. This makes its beautiful architecture look even more amazing.

Additional Images

The Church of Santo Domingo in 1926.
Facade of Church of Santo Domingo
Church and convent
Ceiling of Church of Santo Domingo
Ceiling Detail, Church of Santo Domingo
Cloister in the former monastery. Note the restoration of the painted decoration
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The former convent garden, now maintained as an ethnobotanical garden.
Santo Domingo Church and Monastery Complex
Interior, Church of Santo Domingo
Dome decoration
Detail
Cloister hall