The Dominican Convents in the Mixtec Alta

When Offered: Saturdays

Included: Guide and transportation

Yanhuitlán is located in the Mixteca, in the ñuñuma in "the land of the people of the clouds," where in the pre-Hispanic and viceroyal eras the Mixtec language prevailed, with smaller nuclei of trique, muzer and chocho speakers.
Yanhuitlán in Nahua (Yodzocahi in Mixtec) means new earth, broad plain, large feather extended or feather mat. Yanhuitlán was occupied from the lower preclassic to the postclassic.

The temple of Yanhuitlán, with its distinctive nave is the result of an arquitectural project that the Medicant order had achieved after decades of experimentation. The exconvents of the 16th century, more than other examples of architecture, are symbols of the true Mexico. Yanhuitlán was one of the largest and most sumptuous convents in Oaxaca, perhaps in all of Mexico.

Schedule: We will leave at 8:30 am and head for Coixtlahuaca (Plain of the Serpents; in the Mixteca language - Yodocoo) first . We start our visit at 10:30 a.m. The temple monument is situated on a large space that has been levelled similar to Yanhuitlán. It has a huge atrium surrounded by walls with inverted arches. The remaining staircase is located on the north side.
The Open Chapel: It is linked to the advocation of Saint John the Baptist. The temple: It has a typical floor plan with a grand nave lacking wings with the apse at the east end.
The Lateral Facade: It has reliefs that combine or bring together the instruments and symbols of the Passion.
The Principal Facade: Its door has a half-pointed arch with medallions at its joints. It is peculiar in that its facade has a profusion of niches. On its side panels there are two medallions with sculpted busts and in the center we see a console and an eagle. On the border is an inscription in Latin: "My house will be called the house of prayer." We visit the convent that clearly illustrates the fact that Coixtlahuaca was an important town in the Postclassic. Today it is a shadow of what it once was.

At 12:00, we will head out to Teposcolula where we will visit the house of the cacica (leader) and the largest open chapel in New Spain. At 1:30 pm, after a small lunch, we will head for Yanhuitlán to visit the temple and the convent. On this tour we will analyze the changes that occurred as a result of the Spanish conquest in the Mixtec region.