Were these stones always this gray? La Santísima Church stands as an iconic landmark. It offers respite from the Centro Histórico’s chaos.
Welcome to La Santísima Church. Its full name is Church and Hospital of the Most Holy Trinity. It is on the corner of La Santísima and Emiliano Zapata Street. Construction spanned from 1755 to 1783. It served as a temple for a priests’ hospice.
Imagine this: Empress Carlota admired La Santísima in the 1860s. She loved its architecture and ornamentation. These details extend well inside.
The church’s history stretches back to 1526. A tailor’s guild sponsored a small chapel here. It celebrated religious holidays. It welcomed young tailors.
In 1569, nuns from the Order of Santa Clara occupied the rebuilt chapel. They left after ten years. The tailors reclaimed the property. They collaborated with monks from the Brotherhood of San Pedro.
Next to the chapel, they built a hospital for the destitute. Construction began in 1580. The church was not consecrated until 1667. Renovations continued from the 17th century to today. The city’s sinking ground caused many repairs.
In the 19th century, La Santísima sank three meters. Architects excavated and reconstructed in 1924. The temple was unearthed in the 1980s. It was restored to its present state.
Consider the gray stone entryway. It is flanked by two pillars. Twelve medallions depict the apostles. Columns feature ten sculptures. Five represent bishops. Four represent popes. One represents a priest. Each detail invites contemplation.
The Congregation of Secular Priests of San Pedro and the Tailors’ Brotherhood built La Santísima. It exemplifies Styptic Baroque architecture. Ildefonso de Iniesta Bejarano was the architect. The priests built the hospital for convalescing priests.
Few sculptures and paintings remain inside La Santísima. These are scattered throughout the nave. The hospital facade still stands. It shows a NeoClassical style. The bell tower has a papal tiara.
La Santísima’s design shares similarities with the Mexico City Cathedral’s Tabernacle. Some believe Lorenzo Rodriguez designed it. But some elements are missing. Records suggest Ildefonso Iniesta Bejarano’s involvement. The dome features Maltese crosses. These symbolize the Trinitarians.
The main facade blends older church aspects with newer estipite columns. It has twelve medallions of apostles. Ten sculptures represent bishops, popes, and a priest. The main portal is Churrigueresque. The keystone features the papal coat-of-arms. A relief above depicts the Holy Trinity. God the Father is dressed as a pope. The Trinitarian brotherhood of tailors inspired this depiction.
The side entrance is also Churrigueresque. It features Saint Peter in the central niche. The arch has an icon of Ildephonsus of Toledo. It also shows Saint Anthony the Great. Medallions of John the Baptist and another saint are present. This entrance also led to the hospital.
On Emiliano Zapata Street, a niche displays Corpus Christi. It is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist. This site was once the scene of a major festival.
The tower features a large sculpture of the papal crown. This represents papal authority. The tower’s estipite columns were never finished. They are unique in Mexico City churches.
Inside, little of the original decoration remains. The church once had gold leaf artwork and altarpieces. A wooden screen blocks light. It is made of cedar with carved geometric figures. It has a stained glass window of the Holy Trinity. The choir balustrade is also cedar. It is intricately carved with fruit baskets.
The hospital’s main cloister remains. It has been restored to preserve its historical character. The cloister is rectangular with two floors. Arches stand on thick pillars. The building retains its original walls. Some have been modified for shops. Parts of the original patio remain. Only the front facade of the hospital office remains. Newer construction lies behind it.
A square was created to help stop the church’s subsidence.
La Santísima stands as a testament to faith and perseverance. Its stones tell a story of history and art.