Rosary Chapel and Santo Domingo

Why visit

The Dominican friars of Puebla built the Capilla del Rosario in the second half of the 17th century, and it was consecrated in 1690. They wanted to dazzle, and they still do. Gilded plaster covers almost every surface, framing paintings of the life of the Virgin, and the dome rises to a choir of angels.

What to see

• The dome: look up to see the Holy Spirit surrounded by figures of the gifts of grace and rows of angels.
• The altar: a gilded baldachin over a statue of the Virgin of the Rosary.
• The walls: vines, saints and cherubs in gold, with Talavera tiles around the base.
• The church of Santo Domingo: the main church has its own grand gilded altarpieces, worth a look on your way in.
• The dome outside: from the street or a nearby rooftop, the chapel’s red and white tiled dome is just as striking.

The eighth wonder

When the chapel was finished, people in Puebla called it the eighth wonder of the world, and the name has stuck. Whether or not you agree, few rooms in the Americas are so richly decorated.

Tips

• Entry is free, but the chapel can close during services and for a time in the afternoon.
• Photography without flash is usually allowed. Be discreet during prayers.
• Mornings are quieter than weekend afternoons, when tour groups arrive from Mexico City.
• Shop for Talavera at El Parián market afterwards, a short walk east.