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Former Jesuit Colleges in Tepotzotlán

Les noms des biens figurent dans la langue dans laquelle les Etats parties les ont soumis.

Mexique (Amérique latine et Caraïbes)

Date de soumission : 20/11/2001
Critères: (iii)(iv)
Catégorie : Culturel
Soumission préparée par :
CONACULTA-INAH Dirección de Patrimonio Mundial
Coordonnées
19°42'50" N - 99°13'24" W 2310 mt. A.s.l. Municipality of Tepotzotlan, Mexico State, Mexico
Ref.: 1540

Description

Jesuit Friars arrived in Tepotzotlin in 1580, and their mission was to continue the evangelising work begun by the Franciscan Order. Four years later, they began teaching in San Martin Seminary, where native children learned religion, social manners, reading, writing, singing and music. By 1586 they had already established the Noviciate College and Probation House devoted to San Francisco Javier. In 1606 it became the Probation House and Language Seminary, and worked alongside San Martin Seminary until 1767, when King Charles III expelled the Jesuit Order from all Spanish territories.



Together, both colleges represent one of the greatest endeavours ever undertaken by the Jesuit Order in the New Spain. The architectural solutions used in these colleges are shared by other Jesuit and private colleges and are the result of their historical development. The complex was built in three storeys with several courtyards. The main courtyards were Aljibes (Cisterns), Cocinas (Kitchens) and Naranjos (Orange Trees), and the three secondary ones were Hospederia (Hospice), Enfermeria (Infirmary) and the South courtyard. Their particular location allows for the interpretation of a hierarchy for the college's different areas.



The College has two cloisters and two underground cisterns, one in the Kitchens courtyard and the other one in the Orange Trees courtyard, as well as a water reservoir in the orchard. The cells or dormitories, the infirmary, the domestic chapel, the refectory and anterefectory, the kitchen, wine cellar and cold-storage room have survived, along with two fountains, dating to 1708 and 1740, respectively. The large orchard covers more than three hectares, and its fruit trees, vegetable gardens, medicinal plants and flowers surround this imposing architectural group on its south side.



Construction on the Church of San Francisco Javier began in 1670, and ended in mid XVIII century. However, it was modemised ca. 1760. Its carved stone facade is considered the greatest Churrigueresque artwork in Mexico. Its lavish exterior ornamentation and Jesuit iconography is closely related to the five extraordinary interior altarpieces decorated with estipites, which are pedestals shaped like inverted pyramids that have survived to our day. Furthermore, large canvases painted by inspired XVIII century artists also embellish the Church.