Main Square and San Mateo Parish Church

The San Mateo Parish Church is the crown jewel of this Oaxacan Magical Town’s Main Square. Over 300 years old, visiting the church is like stepping back in time as it still has the Dominicans’ original decoration, characterized by colorful fleurs-de-lis. It was built in the 16th century and still retains its ceiling from this era. The elegant vaulted roof is covered with clay tiles on the exterior. While austere outside, the interior is incredibly detailed with unique artistic elements. There are 14 priceless wood altarpieces that display all the variations of Mexican baroque styles from the 17th and 18th centuries, from the more restrained Solomonic baroque style to the lavish Churrigueresque with fine figures of angels forming estipite columns. Some say they were made on site, and others claim that they were brought from several locations in the Sierra Norte mountains.