ArchitectureThe Santo Domingo de Guzman ChurchOaxaca

The construction of the architectural monument, the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman began in 1555 by the Dominican Order, and wasn’t concluded until the second half of the 18th century, in the year 1724, when the last modification took place with the start of the construction of the Chapel of the Rosary.
The Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman was the most important evangelization center in Oaxaca, and witnessed important historical events that marked the future of the state.
Its interior holds important works of art that are preserved as cultural vestiges of three centuries of the Viceroyalty in Oaxaca.
This church is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque in Mexico, with its splendid facade, and its interior ornamentation such as the Chapel of the Rosary upholstered in gold, or the ceiling medallions.
 In the archway of the church, the high relief stucco of the "Tree of Jesse," or “Tree of Life” can be seen, done in a Churrigueresque or Mestizo style with a charm unimaginable. Figures of vines and bunches of grapes are converted into human figures, that merge the Tree of Life of pre-Hispanic cults with the Genealogical Tree of the Dominican order, resulting in an unprecedented fine art scene.
Between 1956 and 1959, restoration work was carried out on the temple’s main altar and of the Chapel of the Rosary, which had been destroyed in the 19th century. Subsequently, the land of the central cloister and the service courtyard were transferred to the Autonomous University of Oaxaca.
In 1972 the church was placed within the group of the Oaxaca Regional Museum also known as the Cultural Museum of Oaxaca, by the National Institute of Anthropology and History.
In 1993, by federal decree the property in its entirety was earmarked for cultural purposes. El Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman is located in the heart of Oaxaca City, and is part of the historical buildings that have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

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