Photographing Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán

Santo Domingo is the most photographed building in Oaxaca City, and it earns that twice over: once outside, where two heavy bell towers and a carved stone facade rise straight off the pedestrian street, and once inside, where almost every surface is covered in gilded stucco said to use more than 60,000 sheets of 23.5-karat gold leaf.

The shots worth knowing about before you go

• The Tree of Jesse ceiling. Directly above you as you walk into the church, before the nave opens up, is a polychrome relief of a vine carrying the family tree of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, studded with painted figures. Most visitors walk straight under it without looking up. It is the single best photograph in the building and the one people miss.
• The gilded chapel vaulting. Carved angels sit in the corners beneath a ribbed, gold-ribbed dome above a gold retablo. Shooting straight up gets the whole pattern; the light is uneven, so expose for the gold.
• The cloister of the former monastery. Two storeys of pale stone arcades around an octagonal fountain, now part of the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca. From the upper gallery you get the arches in repetition; from the courtyard you get the church's dome and bell tower rising over the roofline.
• The grand staircase. Inside the ex-convento, a broad stone stair rises under a barrel vault covered in gilded stucco and painted medallions — one of the most photogenic interiors in the complex and far less crowded than the church.
• Tomb 7 gold in the museum. The Mixtec goldwork recovered from Tomb 7 at Monte Albán is displayed here, including a gold mask. It is behind glass in a dark room: kill your flash, brace against the case, and shoot slightly off-axis to dodge the reflections.
• The botanical garden. The Jardín Etnobotánico occupies the old monastery grounds — columnar cacti and agaves laid out in rows with the hills behind. Entry is by guided tour only, so plan it rather than wander in.

Light and timing

The interior is dim and lit unevenly, with pools of light under the windows and deep shadow in the vaulting. That is a difficult combination: a phone will tend to average it into something muddy. If your camera allows it, expose for the gold rather than for the shadows and accept the dark corners. Early morning is quietest, and the facade takes warm light late in the day.

Photography rules — what to actually expect

Photography is permitted. The sensible limits are the ones you would apply in any working church: no flash, and not during Mass, which is still celebrated here. Tripods are the usual sticking point in buildings of this kind, so expect to shoot handheld.

The museum and the botanical garden in the former monastery run their own policies separately from the church. The garden is accessible by guided tour only, and the museum's displays are behind glass in low light, which is a harder photographic problem than the church itself.

History

The Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman is a historic church located in Oaxaca, Mexico. It was built in the 16th century by the Dominican Order and is known for its stunning Baroque architecture and intricate details.

How to Get There

To get to the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman, visitors can take a taxi or public transportation to the city center of Oaxaca. The church is located on Macedonio Alcalá street, near the Zocalo.

List of Attractions

– Baroque architecture
– Impressive collection of religious art
– The ornate altar
– The church museum which has pre-Hispanic artifacts.

Ticket Information

Admission to the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman is included in the ticket price for the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the museum.

List of Tips for Visiting

– Wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking on uneven surfaces.
– Bring a camera — see the photography section above for what to shoot and what the restrictions usually are.
– Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds.
– Respect the church’s rules and customs: it is an active place of worship, and services take priority over visitors.

Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán FAQ

Where is Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán located?
The temple is located at Calle de Santiago Tapia 414 Ruta Independencia, Oaxaca 68000 Mexico, on Macedonio Alcalá street in the historic centre.

What is Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán known for?
It is a 16th-century Dominican Baroque church renowned for its interior covered in over 60,000 sheets of gold leaf, ornate altar, impressive religious art collection, and the polychrome Tree of Jesse relief.