Oaxaca (Wah-Ha-Ka) as it looked in 1887 from the heights of Monte Alban.
Below-Flying into the valley with a similar view point.
It is the capital of the State with the same name. It is a mountainous State and the valley of Oaxaca is where most people live
The centre of town is The Zocalo -which for some reason I never got a good shot of.
Here one above from Wikipedia which shows the tree shaded plaza and the Cathedral.
A walking street runs north from The Zocalo to The Templo Santa Domingo.
Many sites are along this street so one gets used to walking it.
Most of the architecture is not as grand as the facades above. Most are two storied at most like the photo below.
Above– A side street with gardens.
Above –The Templo Santo Domingo which is a jewel inside.
It was founded by the Dominican Order and begun in 1575. The monastery was active from 1608 to 1857. In the period of the revolutionary wars, the buildings were turned over to military use, and from 1866 to 1902 they served as a barracks. The church was restored to religious use in 1938 and the attached monastery later became a superb regional museum.
Its highly decorated interior includes use of more than 60,000 sheets of gold leaf.
Below– restoration work going on.
Below– At the back of the church there was some event in rehearsal for which these giant figures were a part.
Below– In the front plaza of the church. I have not a clue what this was all about.
Adjacent to the Templo is the restored monastery which is now a Cultural Museum with among other things, artifacts from nearby Monte Alban.
Below- this is just the gift shop.
Below- a boveda ceiling in a cell. There were many, many rooms all with this level of sophistication.
From a high window one sees the Botanical Gardens which are the subject of the next posting.
