San Cristóbal de Las Casas - Church of Santo Domingo

Going north from the Zócalo along Avenida General Utrilla we come to the most important sacral building, the church of Santo Domingo. Built between 1547 and 1560 on the orders of Bishop Francisco de Marroquin of Guatemala, its present 17th c. façade is typically Mexican-Baroque and is one of the largest in surface area of its kind in Mexico. The imperial double eagle, the coat of arms of the Emperor Charles V, can be seen above the barred central opening and on the sides. The interior is over-lavishly decorated and contains a number of sculptures and wooden altars covered with gold leaf. The particularly richly and artistically carved pulpit dates from the 19th c., its plinth is carved from a single piece of wood and is one of the most remarkable examples of Baroque in the western hemisphere.

The adjoining convent was built at the same time. It served as a prison in the 19th c. and is now used by an Indian textile co-operative (Tianguis Jolobil). A museum of religion stands next to it.