Magic Town and Architecture Century XVII
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The most amazing and beautiful building of the complex of the former Jesuit school of Tepotzotlán is, undoubtedly, the church of San Francisco Javier. This building is remarkable not only because of its grandeur, but also because it is one of the few New Spanish XVIII century baroque churches which still preserves its original architecture, painting and sculpture. We must not forget that most colonial churches from that time were transformed since the late XVIII century under the influence of the new artistic ideas of the neoclassical style.

This church, with a Latin cross plan, was built between 1670 and 1682 thanks, among others, to donations of the Medina Picazo family. This is evidenced by a memorial tablet found during the restoration works in 1964 and which can now be seen to one side of the altarpiece dedicated to St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The side façade of this temple also dates to the XVII century.

 

Tepotzotlán

 

Just 40 km outside Mexico City, along the Querétaro highway, stands Tepozotlán, a town that, despite its small size, is world famous and a source of pride to the inhabitants of the state of Mexico.

 

Tepotzotlán houses one of the most important works of the vice-regal period, the former monastery of the Jesuit novices, with its beautiful church devoted to St. Francis Xavier. This area, now the National Museum of the Viceroyalty, displays masterpieces from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

 

"Tepotzotlán" is a náhuatl word meaning "among hunchbacks". This name probably refers to the fact that this town is located near high mountains which resemble humps. The Otomí were the ancient inhabitants of this region, where the Teotihuacán culture later established itself. Afterwards, Chichimec groups, who years later would become allies of the Mexicas, founded the independent domain of Tepotzotlán in 1460. The prehispanic history of Tepotzotlán came to an end with the arrival of the Spaniards in 1520, when the local indigenous groups resisted the army of Hernán Cortés, who was fleeing from Tenochtitlán after his defeat, known as the "sad night".Ancient gate and entrance to the museum

 

Source: Tips Aeroméxico # 19 State of Mexico / spring 2001

 
 

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