Santo Domingo Church in Oaxaca is located on a
pedestrian-only street in the capitol city of culturally-rich
Oaxaca State.
The building, first called Santo Domingo Grande, was
begun in 1572 and reconstructed many times by the
Dominican order due to repeated earthquakes.
The building, when completed in the early part of the
seventeenth century, covered 40.000 square meters. It
was first occupied in 1608 to serve as a church and
convent
pedestrian-only street in the capitol city of culturally-rich
Oaxaca State.
The building, first called Santo Domingo Grande, was
begun in 1572 and reconstructed many times by the
Dominican order due to repeated earthquakes.
The building, when completed in the early part of the
seventeenth century, covered 40.000 square meters. It
was first occupied in 1608 to serve as a church and
convent
Santo Domingo Church, Oaxaca, Mexico
Santo Domingo Cultural Center was
once a Dominican church and convent.
After more than four years of
preservation and restoration, it opened
in 1998 as the City's premier museum.
once a Dominican church and convent.
After more than four years of
preservation and restoration, it opened
in 1998 as the City's premier museum.
These are two examples of the many burial urns in the collection.
The Santo Domingo Church was started in 1558 when the Dominican order acquired the land in the city of
Villa de Antequera, as Oaxaca was then called. Construction continued sporadically until 1608 when the
church and convent were first inhabited.
Villa de Antequera, as Oaxaca was then called. Construction continued sporadically until 1608 when the
church and convent were first inhabited.
Cociyo the Rain God, the reigning deity during Monte Alban's Classic period, 200 to 800 AD.
Tours are conducted in the gardens in several languages for 100 pesos. (Volunteer Docent
assignments available)
Oaxaca State's diverse climate zones range from coastal jungle to mountain rain forest and have
more species of plants than that found in all of Europe with new ones found on occasion during the
frequent botany expeditions..
assignments available)
Oaxaca State's diverse climate zones range from coastal jungle to mountain rain forest and have
more species of plants than that found in all of Europe with new ones found on occasion during the
frequent botany expeditions..
The Mixtec people entering the Valley of
Oaxaca from the northern mountains
brought with them a knowledge of metal
working in gold silver and copper. They
as a burial place, re-using Zapotec
tombs to bury their dead.
Oaxaca from the northern mountains
brought with them a knowledge of metal
working in gold silver and copper. They
as a burial place, re-using Zapotec
tombs to bury their dead.
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center displays the Mixtec art found in the Tomb Seven offering in a
special room devoted to this treasure, a collection considered to be the most significant tomb offering
ever found in the new world.
The ability to work crystal, lost wax process gold and silver, and turquoise were hallmarks of the
highly-developed Mixtec skill in creating ornamental jewelry and tomb offerings.
special room devoted to this treasure, a collection considered to be the most significant tomb offering
ever found in the new world.
The ability to work crystal, lost wax process gold and silver, and turquoise were hallmarks of the
highly-developed Mixtec skill in creating ornamental jewelry and tomb offerings.
The Santo Domingo Church is now part of a Cultural Center housing second floor galleries that
display chronologically arranged antique art objects uncovered in the many ruin sites throughout the
State. On the first floor an antique book library and a journalists reading room are adjacent to gallery
and meeting spaces.
display chronologically arranged antique art objects uncovered in the many ruin sites throughout the
State. On the first floor an antique book library and a journalists reading room are adjacent to gallery
and meeting spaces.
In 1812 the Mexican military occupied the
church property and at one time occupied the
entire building.
The church closed in 1866 and did not open
again until 1902.
The military returned the building to civil control
in 1993 and it was designated for cultural use.
In July of 1998, after 50 months of restoration
and preservation work, the Santo Domingo
Cultural Center opened for visitors
church property and at one time occupied the
entire building.
The church closed in 1866 and did not open
again until 1902.
The military returned the building to civil control
in 1993 and it was designated for cultural use.
In July of 1998, after 50 months of restoration
and preservation work, the Santo Domingo
Cultural Center opened for visitors
On the north and east sides of the museum complex, a
botanical garden designed to display and protect
Oaxaca's indigenous plants is open for guided tours in
several languages, the Oaxaca Historical Ethnobotanical
Garden
botanical garden designed to display and protect
Oaxaca's indigenous plants is open for guided tours in
several languages, the Oaxaca Historical Ethnobotanical
Garden
The Santo Domingo Church is now part of The Santo Domingo Cultural Center, home to four
institutions, The Oaxaca Historical Ethnobotanical Gardens, The Oaxaca Cultures Museum, The
Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library, and the Journalist Nestor Sanchez H. Publications Library.
The publications library has reading rooms for visitors where newspapers and magazines are
available. The Burgoa Library preserves antique books that date back to 1484 and are available to
scholars. Many other sections of the complex become art galleries for changing photography
exhibits and concert and meeting space.
institutions, The Oaxaca Historical Ethnobotanical Gardens, The Oaxaca Cultures Museum, The
Friar Francisco de Burgoa Library, and the Journalist Nestor Sanchez H. Publications Library.
The publications library has reading rooms for visitors where newspapers and magazines are
available. The Burgoa Library preserves antique books that date back to 1484 and are available to
scholars. Many other sections of the complex become art galleries for changing photography
exhibits and concert and meeting space.
Zapotec burial urns of the classic period were mold-made clay vessels unique to Oaxaca. The mass produced
vessels contain symbols of water, corn, Venus, and the stars in the headpiece and cartouche and are found
within the tombs or at the entrance.
vessels contain symbols of water, corn, Venus, and the stars in the headpiece and cartouche and are found
within the tombs or at the entrance.
The church came
under the civil domain
cultural resource.
Once designated as
cultural space in 1993
it underwent extensive
historic restoration on
the interior and
exterior. The church
and former convent
went through more
than four years of
research, restoration,
and renovation to open
as the Santo Domingo
Cultural Center in July
of 1998.
under the civil domain
cultural resource.
Once designated as
cultural space in 1993
it underwent extensive
historic restoration on
the interior and
exterior. The church
and former convent
went through more
than four years of
research, restoration,
and renovation to open
as the Santo Domingo
Cultural Center in July
of 1998.
Large areas of the interior
are scenes of concerts. The
church often is a parade
stop for the many Oaxacan
festivals.
are scenes of concerts. The
church often is a parade
stop for the many Oaxacan
festivals.
The main building is still an active church with daily services while remaining open during the
day for visiting tourists
day for visiting tourists
The Santo Domingo Cultural Museum is perhaps best know for its collection of ancient art,
particularly the gold and silver tomb art found in the nearby ruin of Monte Alban.
particularly the gold and silver tomb art found in the nearby ruin of Monte Alban.
At dusk, lights illuminate the church front and the grounds become a place for evening walks.
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More Info
Tourist Information Center
Secretaria de Tourismo
Colonial Center,Oaxaca
Tel. 951-516-0123
How to Get There
From the Zocalo go north to the Llano Park and
the theatre building at 703, the office is on the
right side of the building.
Tourist Information Center
Secretaria de Tourismo
Colonial Center,Oaxaca
Tel. 951-516-0123
How to Get There
From the Zocalo go north to the Llano Park and
the theatre building at 703, the office is on the
right side of the building.
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