Articles about Taxco de Alarcón
Culture

Church of Santa Prisca and San Sebastián

by: Travel by México

Church of Santa Prisca and San Sebastián, Taxco de Alarcón
Culture

Church of Santa Prisca and San Sebastián

by: Travel by México

The Church of Santa Prisca is located in the Plaza Borda in the City of Taxco, Guerrero, with its beautiful facade made of pink stone quarry, with Baroque ornament of the era and its images in which highlight the patron saints, is considered one of the most beautiful work of the Mexican baroque art by the richness of its decoration.

The construction was ordered by the wealthy Jose de la Borda and built by architects Diego Duran, Cayetano de Siguenza and Juan Caballero between 1751 and 1758 with the purpose of allowing his son, Manuel de la Borda would officiate mass.

It has twelve carved wood altarpieces covered with gold leaf with beautiful pilasters of pink quarry. The main altarpiece is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and the patron saints of the city of Taxco: Santa Prisca and San Sebastian. It has two twin towers of Churrigueresque style and a chapel decorated with Talavera tiles, typical of the New Spain architecture . It also has paintings by Miguel Cabrera, a German organ made in 1760 and the pulpit that was built with precious woods remained intact so far. Legend has it that in 1751 when the construction of the parish started, an afternoon in which Jose de la Borda was absent from Taxco, began a terrible storm and then some lightning flash fell on the construction scaring the workers and them, with their great fear, kneel down and started praying when suddenly from the heaven appeared Santa Prisca holding in her hands the lightning flash to avoid harming the people that were in the place, then, she was slowly disappearing.

Inside the temple is a painting that has this legend. On January 18 is celebrated the patron saint festival of San Sebastian and Santa Prisca, where there is a big fair with music and fireworks.