HISTORICAL
ARCHITECTURE
As you walk
through the streets of Oaxaca City you?ll discover
beautiful civic and religious buildings,
particularly in the Historic Center, which was declared
a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO due to the artistic
and cultural value of the following
buildings:
Plaza de la Constitucion ? Located
between Hidalgo, Trujano,
Flores Magon and Bustamente streets, in the Historic Center.
The main sights here are the corridors lining
the plaza and the art
nouveau-style pavilion, which takes you back to the Porfirian
era at the beginning of the
20th century.
Palacio de Gobierno
? Located at Avenida Guerrero and Miguel Cabrera,
this building with a neoclassical façade houses an important collection of
murals by artist Arturo Garcia Bustos. The murals chronicle the history
of pre-Hispanic
Oaxaca, the conquest and independence. They also depict
the formation of the universe
and ancient indigenous beliefs. Open daily from
10:00 to 6:00.
Alameda de Leon ? Located
on Independence Street
in the Historic Center. This place was
once a small plaza called
Cantaros (pitchers) because
it was an
area where potters sold their
wares. Alameda was inaugurated as a garden in 1843 in honor of General Antonio de Leon.
Catedral (Cathedral)
? Located beside the Alameda de Leon in the Historic Center. This is the city?s most
important church. Construction began in 1535 as a headquarters for bishops and it
was finished in 1574. The Baroque-style
façade has sculptures of Catholic saints,
which surround a beautiful relief depicting the Assumption
of Mary. It is a replica of a painting by El Tiziano. Inside you can admire numerous works of art,
images and relics of the
19th century, such
as the remains of the famous
Cross of Huatulco, a legendary symbol of faith for
Oaxaca?s coastal residents. Open daily from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Templo y Ex Convento
de Santo Domingo de Guzman ? Located
on Macedonio Alcala Street in the Historic
Center. Considered one of the
architectural marvels of the city,
this complex stands out for the temple?s façade,
which has three main bodies. Inside
the recently remodeled Baroque architecture features a principal
altarpiece in the nave, 10 chapels and a large
dome with 104 paintings of religious martyrs.
The paintings were done between the 16th and 18th
centuries. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 to 8:00.
Templo de San Felipe Neri ? Located on
Avenida Independencia, at Tinoco
y Palacios Street in the Historic Center. The Baroque-style
façade is constructed with three main bodies
and a crest. Former Mexican President Benito Juarez and Margarita Maza, a Oaxaca native
who helped the poor, were
married at this site in the
19th century. Open
daily from 9:00 to 6:00.
Basilica de la Soledad ? Located
on Avenida Independencia, near
the Jardin Socrates. This 17th-century construction is one of
the most important examples of religious architecture
during the Viceregal era in Oaxaca. Open daily from 9:00 to 6:00.
