Taxco de Alarcón - San Sebastián y Santa Prisca

The small square or "zócalo" (Plaza de la Borda), in which stands the church of San Sebastián y Santa Prisca, is undoubtedly picturesque. The church, a masterpiece of Churrigueresque architecture, was commissioned by the silver king, Joséde la Borda, and built by the architects, Diego Durán and Juan Caballero. The portal is flanked on each side by a pair of Corinthian columns, which enclose a row of sculptures. In the upper part of the façade over the pope's triple crown can be seen, instead of a central window, a large medallion depicting the baptism of Christ. Above this is the chancel window, which is topped by a rounded gable. The elaborate ornamentation, which includes statues, weapons, foliage, shells, ribbons and cherubims, is particularly finely wrought. The uniformity of the side walls is broken on either side of the portal by ornately framed windows. The towers above the façade are richly decorated with felicitously embellished columns and grotesque sculpted faces. The magnificent picture presented by the church is completed by the dome which is covered with blue and yellow azulejos (tiles). The interior of the church has superbly carved, painted and gilded retablos which show many figures of apostles, angels and saints in the middle of richly fashioned motives of flowers, fruits and birds. Above the entrance to the chapel of the Indians (Capilla de los Indios) there is a painting by Miguel Cabrera depicting the martyrdom of the church's patron saint, Santa Prisca. There are other noteworthy paintings by the same artist hanging in the chapel and in the sacristy.