Types of Buildings
In Vice-Regal New Spain (Colonial Mexico), stylistic elements from European architecture are combined in unique and creative ways not found in the Old World. Forms are modified and adapted to accommodate both the skills and the creative imagination of native craftsmen.
Regional flavor is reflected in the various schools of art and architecture that spring up throughout the colony. Local materials, particularly the different types of stone used in construction, add to distinctively regional variety.
In the literature concerning colonial churches and monasteries, structures are commonly identified simply by the name of the town where they are built. This system works for small towns that have only one notable colonial building. However, in larger towns or cities, where there are multiple buildings of note, the nomenclature creates confusion. I have chosen to use the formal names of buildings for the sake of consistency. In addition, I include the town or city where the building is located. In the lists below, the buildings are alphabetized by city/town to make it easier to follow the literature.
Plateresque
- Acolman in Mexico : San Agustin
- Actopan in Hidalgo : San Nicolas Tolentino
- Calpan in Puebla : San Andres
- Ixmiquilpan in Hidalgo : San Miguel
- Merida in Yucatan : Casa De Montejo
- Metztitlan in Hidalgo : Santos Reyes
- Tepoztlan in Morelos : Nativity
- Yanhuitlan in Oaxaca : Santo Domingo
- Yuriria in Guanajuato : Saint Augustine
Renaissance
- Cuautinchan in Puebla : San Juan Bautista
- Merida in Yucatan : Cathedral Of San Idelfonso
- Tecamachalco in Puebla : Asuncion De Nuestra Senora
Early Baroque
- Puebla in Puebla : Cathedral
- Queretaro in Queretaro : San Francisco
Folk Baroque
- Acatepec in Puebla : San Francisco
- Santa Elena in Yucatan : San Mateo
- Tlacochahuaya in Oaxaca : San Jeronimo
- Tonantzintla in Puebla : Santa Maria
- Zacatecas in Zacatecas : Cathedral
High Baroque
- Aquascalientes in Aquascalientes : Casa Rincon Gallardo
- Morelia in Michoacan : Cathedral
- Oaxaca in Oaxaca : Cathedral
- Oaxaca in Oaxaca : La Soledad
- Oaxaca in Oaxaca : Santo Domingo
- Puebla in Puebla : San Cristobal
Churrigueresque
- La Valenciana in Guanajuato : San Cayetano
- San Luis Potosi in San Luis Potosi : El Carmen
- Taxco in Guerrero : Santa Prisca
- Tepozotlan in Mexico : San Martin
- Tlaxcala in Tlaxcala : Santuario De Ocotlan
Neo-Classical
- Guanajuato in Guanajuato : Tribunal