Convento de San Gabriel

Convento San Gabriel, a massive, mustard-colored convent dedicated to the archangel Gabriel, is one of the oldest in Mexico. Construction started in 1529 on a site previously dedicated to quite a different deity, the plumed serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Behind the convent is the Capilla Real, built by indigenous nobles so that thousands of Indians who didn´t fit in the church proper could have an opportunity to hear Mass. The convent building has 49 domes, inner columns and arches, which experts often compare to Islamic mezquita architecture, although others claim that the architecture was actually inspired by ancient Mexicans´ cosmic conception of Heaven and Mother Earth.

Location:
8 Norte, Number 2
Cholula, Mexico

Historical Building Types:
Churches and religious buildings

Getting There
It´s right on the Zócalo in San Pedro Choula, opposite the portales

Relative price: Free

Open Hours from:10 a.m.

Open Hours to:6 p.m.

Days Closed:none

Travel Skills: None

Zócalo, Portales, Great Pyramid

By Lisa Rodan

Created: 30 Dec 2008

Updated: 30 Dec 2008