Mexico City's most magical baroque church is often overlooked.
La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, popularly known as
La Enseánza (derived from its former name
El Convento de la Enseñanza La Antigua, The Old Convent of the Teaching), is located at
Calle Doncelles 104, not far from the ruins of the Aztec's Templo Mayor. Begun in 1737
and finished in 1778, it was originally connected to a convent dedicated to educating young girls from wealthy families.
One of the smaller churches in the Centro, it's interior is an explosion of gilded baroque curves, squiggles and arabesques. The main altar is flanked by 8 side altars, turning the small space into a giant Faberge egg. It is rarely crowded, making it my number once choice for a moment of rest and reflection during a visit to the hectic Centro Histórico.
5 comments:
It is a lovely place worth visiting many times over.
I love this Church and the whole atmosphere of this historic part of the city. Thanks for the post.
Thank you for this celebration of a hidden gem. Like you, I find myself returning to find peace amidst chaos when I enter this beautiful space.
As someone with the given name of Pilar, I seek out places like this when I travel...this gives me one more for the list!
Very timely info for me - in the midst of planning a trip.
I *think* I have been inside this church before. Of course there are so many in and around the Zocalo.
Do you know the Iglesia de Jesus Nazareno, near Metro Pino Suarez and the Museo de la Ciudad? It has some wonderful ceiling frescoes by Orozco.
Great post. Me encanta CDMX....
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