Church of the Virgin of the Soledad--page 4 (of four pages)

Work began 1582; consecrated 1682



page 1: front facade and center details
page2: sculptural details, left side of front facade
page 3: sculptural details, right side of front facade
page 4: views of side exterior and portal and views of the interior

The South portal with a statue of the patron saint of Oaxaca, La Soledad, on the pediment

According to the legend, a pack mule refused to move and sat on a boulder. An image of the Virgin was found in the mule's pack and then the Virgin appeared. Thus a church was built to honor the miracle and today this outcropping of rock is enclosed in an iron cage on the right as one enters the church. A festival on December 18 honors the Virgin, attracting the faithful from all over Oaxaca.

Below, the statue of La Soledad in her long cape and St. Joseph with the young Christ in the central niche

 
 

Flanking the portal--St. Louis and St. Anthony of Padua (carrying the Christ child on the book)

 

Views of the interior

The church is a cruciform shape with an octagonal drum and dome at the crossing.
 

The illuminated statue of La Soledad

 

The crossing

 

The entrance gate into the sacred precinct



Return to page 1 .

Works consulted or quoted:
Richard D. Perry. Exploring Colonial Oaxaca. The Art and Architecture. Santa Barbara, CA: Espada Press, 2006.



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© 2009 Mary Ann Sullivan. I have photographed (on site), scanned, and manipulated all the images on these pages. Please feel free to use them for personal or educational purposes. They are not available for commercial purposes.