PROCEEDINGS | Scientific Symposium
Fig.3 - Typical elements in the Monasteries in the 16th
century (Toussaint, 2010)
Fig.4 - Blueprint of the Temple and Former Convent of
the Assumption of our Lady (INAH,2016)
“In the history of Mesoamerican urbanism, the landscape was the determining factor in the search for
the right place to establish and settle permanently in a town” (p.40, Ledesma, 2010) That is why each
religious space in the region is diverse, since they depended on the place where they were settled, the
geographical conditions and the available spaces were different in each community.
These monasteries apart from being a valuable architectural contribution to the area and being a symbol
of evangelization that occurred in New Spain, have had various uses for the population and fulfill many
functions within the community that include areas such as social, economic, religious, cultural and political.
The monastic architecture of the 16th century communicates different moments: spaces of political-economic,
religious, urban, social and economic development; as a complement, arts such as music,
sculpture and mural painting; support as a didactic means for the understanding of the new religion. On
the other hand, the monasteries where not only the center of the processes of religious teaching, but were
also used as a lodging and reflection place for the mendicant members who lived there, as well as those
who came in passing (Manrique, 1982).
In Cuernavaca, Morelos the first Monastery of the Franciscans was built, now known as the Cathedral
of Cuernavaca or with its original name Temple and Old Convent of the Assumption. The convent was
established in 1526 by the first twelve Franciscan friars who arrived to the country and with the help of
Fray Antonio Maldonado, Fray Antonio Ortiz, Fray Alonso de Herrera and Fray Diego de Almonte. “In
1529 the formal foundation of the monastery was ratified. It was one of the most important, mainly because
from this site, the friars went out to evangelize the following populations: Acatlipac, Panchimalco,
Xochitepec, Alpuyeca, Coatetelco, Miacatlán, Mazatepec, San Francisco Amacuzac, Tlaltenchi, Xoxotla,
Huitzilac, Tlatenango and Tetelpa. (National Catalogue of Monuments and Historical Buildings. State of
Morelos, 2000) The construction work of the monastic complex began in the 16th century and was completed
in 1574, according to Kubler who mentions in his book the food reserves that the Indians used to
dry on flat roofs was finished.
The Old Temple and Convent of Santo Domingo (currently located at Yautepec, Morelos) was the first
convent founded by the Dominican friars in New Spain in 1542 and was finished in 1586. “Because of
the type of stone carved and the overlapping of the decorations it is known that there were two intensive
periods of construction during the sixteenth century. In 1560, new edifications were built; nevertheless
these were carried out with difficulties as it is deduced from the tracery of the temple and its finishing in
the walls, as well as the ashlar corresponds to the first decorative stage that was later covered with wall
painting”, (INAH,2016).
The first Augustinian monastery that was built in the southern region of the foothills of the Popocatepetl
was the Temple and Convent of Santiago Apostle currently located in Ocuituco, Morelos. It was built in
1536 with the work of the Augustinians Francisco de la Cruz and Juan de Oseguera; and it was finished
in 1542 at the hands of Bishop Zumárraga. “The convent of Ocuituco represents the starting point of
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