Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl
| Earliest 16th century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| |
| State Party |  Mexico
|
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv |
| Reference | 702 |
| Region** | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1994 (18th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. | |
There are several monasteries near the Popocatépetl volcano in central Mexico which were built in the 16th century by members of the Franciscan, Dominican and Augustinian orders. They were a major factor in the Christianization of a very large population over a vast territory and in a short period of time. They are located in the municipalities of Atlatlauhcan, Cuernavaca, Hueyapan, Tetela del Volcán, Yautepec, Ocuituco, Tepoztlán, Tlayacapan, Totolapan, Yecapixtla and Zacualpan de Amilpas in the state of Morelos; and in the municipalities of Calpan, Huexotzingo and Tochimilco in the state of Puebla; all of these are within sight of Popocatépetl.
In 1994 these monasteries were placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, as the fourteenth Mexican site to receive such recognition. As of 2008, there were 25 cultural and 2 natural World Heritage Sites in Mexico.
These monasteries are impressive in their structural austerity, with the main buildings box shaped and of imposing height, often overlooking the local habitations. Additionally, the buildings are surrounded with turreted strongwalls, giving an even more imposing air.
Background
Popocatépetl (commonly referred to as Popo, El Popo or Don Goyo) is an active volcano and the second highest peak in Mexico after the Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m). Its name originates from the Nahuatl words popōca (it smokes) and tepētl (mountain), meaning Smoking Mountain. It is linked to the Iztaccíhuatl volcano to the north by the high saddle known as the Paso de Cortés, and lies in the eastern half of the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. Popocatépetl, in south central Mexico, is in Puebla State only 44 miles (70 km) to the southeast of Mexico City.
The slopes of Popocatépetl hold 14 monasteries constructed by missionaries in the 16th century. First Franciscans, then Dominicans and Augustinians were sent to the New World to converted the indigenous populations to Christianity. These 14 monasteries remain in excellent condition. They exhibit the architectural style adopted by the first missionaries, representing a style of open spaces, which has carried on throughout the Mexican territory. [1]
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Dominican convent of Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán is a picturesque town located in the state of Morelos. It was occupied by Spain in 1521. Soon, the Dominicans arrived, founding a convent to be used for Christianizing the native people.
The old Dominican convent has been converted to a museum. This fortress-like structure was built between 1559 and 1580, and dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The church was completed in 1588. The original frescoes on the walls of the church remain, depicting scenes important to Catholicism.
The facade of the church was built in plateresque style and has, on both sides, buttresses that support the towers. These needed to be reconstructed following earthquake damage that ocurred in 1839.
Symbols above the door include: sculptures representing the Virgin Mary holding the Infant Jesus, flanked on either side by two saints, Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena; finally there are two angels holding a screen on which it is believed there was once an inscription.
The interior of the church includes one nave leading to an apse, which contains a diagonally ribbed Gothic vault. Following the church is a two-story monastery. Community rooms are on the upper floor, while cloister cells encircle an open arcade. A carved cross dating from the sixteenth century is found to the right of the church.
Cuernavaca is the capital of the state of Morelos. Its cathedral belongs to this World Heritage Site. Its construction began in 1533 to serve as a shrine to the adjacent Franciscan convent. There is an open chapel with vaults with gothic ribs built between 1536 and 1538 next to the cathedral. It is still possible to see pieces of mural paintings from the sixteenth century in the cloister of the convent. The chapel of the Third Order whose facade was built in baroque style and which has a beautiful altarpiece made of carved wood is located in the atrium.
Augustinian convent of Atlatlauhcan
Atlatlauhcan is a town in the state of Morelos where an Augustinian convent was built between 1570 and 1600. The church is preceded by a large atrium with two small chapels; the facade of the temple has a bell gable above. There is an open chapel to the left, behind which a high tower was constructed. It has a portico that leads to the cloister whose vaults are decorated with hexagonal coffering that are painted with frescoes.
Augustinian and franciscan convent of Yecapixtla
Yecapixtla is a municipality in the state of Morelos. The Franciscans came in 1525 and built a modest chapel which was later replaced with the imposing convent-fortress whose construction was led by the Augustinian Jorge de Ávila. The church is preceded by an atrium in which there are chapels.
The facade of the church is sober and beautiful; the decoration includes cherubim and floral motifs. It has a gothic rose window above the plateresque facade which is surrounded by well carved mouldings. Below the small pediment that crowns the facade there is a symbol that resembles the five wounds Saint Francis of Assisi received and that represent those Christ suffered during the Crucifixion; another symbol that shows arrows through a heart lies to the left which represents the Augustinian Order. The church has a stone carved pulpit that dates from the sixteenth century and a gothic cupola with ribs. The cloister has vigorous columns that support the arches.
Franciscan convent of Huejotzingo
Huejotzingo belongs to the state of Puebla and is 2 100 meters above sea level, where one of the most beautiful Franciscan convents is located. This convent dates back to the sixteenth century. The colonial city started to grow from 1529, around the Franciscan convent whose construction probably began in the same year and was completed around 1570.
The convent has an atrium in whose centre there is a carved cross from the sixteenth century. Small oratories whose facades have a carved coat of arms and sculptures can be found on the corners of the atrium.
The church of the convent looks like a fortress, due to its height, and has a sober facade. It has only one nave with a beautiful vault with gothic ribs, specially below the quire and on the apse, in the background there is a large wonderful altarpiece (1586) built in plateresque style and decorated with sculptures and paintings made by the flemish artist Simon Pereyns who came to Mexico (where he died) to serve the third viceroy of New Spain, Gaston de Peralta. Fragments of mural paintings can be seen on one of the walls (in gray tones that imitate the relief of sculptures), the wall where the door of the sacristy lies is decorated with mudejar symbols. The pulpit and the seventeenth century organ are also remarkable.
The entrance to the convent has a facade with two arches, this leads to the hall, to the chapel of the Trinity and to the cloister, characterized by its two superimposed galleries, the lower one has pieces of old mural paintings, among them, an image of the Immaculate Conception. The refectory, kitchen, sacristy, and rooms are located around the cloister. Some rooms still have their original decoration on the walls.
Franciscan convent of Calpan
The Franciscan convent of Calpan was founded in 1548. A triple arcade leads to the atrium. The sober facade of the church is decorated with sculptures, some of them represent maguey flowers. The atrium has four chapels that served as small oratories. They have floral and geometric designs on their walls and bas-reliefs resembling the Annunciation, the Last Judgement, monograms, etc. A seventeenth century fountain were reconstructed in the atrium after recovering its fragments that were scattered all over the town. Calpan is in the state of Puebla.
Franciscan convent of Tochimilco
Tochimilco is located on one of the slopes of Popocatépetl within the state of Puebla. A sixteenth century Franciscan convent was built there. The church shows a Renaissance facade. The portico lies to the right of the facade and leads to the cloister with arcades.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Mexican Tourism Board. Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries On The Slopes Of Popocatépetl Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- World Heritage Site.org. Popocatepetl monasteries Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- Heindorffhus. Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- López Aldana, Carlos. 1950. Mexico's famous archaeological relics: a map of the principal archaeological ruins of Mexico : the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanos legend. Mexico City: The Author. OCL 2520820
- Mexico cultural and natural heritage of mankind. 1998. Mexico: CONACULTA-INAH. OCLC 51636224
External links
All Links Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- Advisory Body Evaluation World Heritage List of Mexican Monasteries of Mexico.
- Decision: Report of the 18th Session of the Committee UNESCO Report.
- San Miguel de Allende. Candidate to be declared World Heritage San Miguel de Allende.
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- ↑ UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Earliest 16th-Century Monasteries on the Slopes of Popocatepetl Retrieved May 12, 2008.
