Iglesia San Lorenzo

Delving into the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center, we find the Iglesia San Lorenzo. This church isn’t just a beautiful building. It’s a place brimming with stories. The Iglesia San Lorenzo we see today was built in the 17th century and renovated in the late 18th century. It was once part of a larger convent, founded in 1598 and affiliated with the Order of San Jerónimo. Recognized for its historical significance, the Iglesia San Lorenzo was declared a historical monument on January 9, 1931. The church has a unique design. It features a single nave and only one facade, unlike the traditional multi-entrance style of nunneries. This facade, crafted entirely from quarry stone, has two sections. The lower section features Tuscan columns and a mixed cornice topped with three niches. The upper section showcases a sculpture of Augustine of Hippo, framed by a molded window. The entire sculptural ensemble of the facade is truly exceptional. Inside, the Iglesia San Lorenzo reveals buttresses, added to support a later-built vault. The high-quality relief of the Annunciation on the upper choir parapet is remarkable. The lower choir vault, shaped like a giant scallop shell, is equally impressive. The original bell tower, sadly, met its demise in an 1845 earthquake. The late 1950s brought a wave of restoration to the Iglesia San Lorenzo, led by Mathias Goeritz. He created several significant pieces for the church. Among them is the relief “The Hand of God,” located in the apse and inspired by Matthias Grünewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece. Goeritz also designed the blue and yellow stained-glass windows adorning the church. He designed the abstract, colorful stained-glass windows in the dome and lantern, inspired by the life of St. Lawrence the Martyr. These windows were crafted at the Carretones Glass Factory in the Merced neighborhood. This same factory would later produce stained glass for the Metropolitan Cathedral.