Templo y convento de San Joaquín de Tacuba, Colonial religious complex in Tlacopan, Mexico
Templo y convento de San Joaquín de Tacuba is a colonial religious building with a Latin cross layout and a circular dome at the center crossing. The structure is built from gray quarry stone and represents a complete monastic complex with church and residential spaces.
The Discalced Carmelites established this religious complex in 1689 based on a royal decree. This was the eleventh foundation of the order in Mexico and marked an important expansion of their presence in the region.
The temple follows strict architectural principles with a simple facade and a bell gable in the southeast corner. These design features reflect the rules of the Discalced Carmelites and shape the character of the place today.
The complex is located in the Miguel Hidalgo district and continues to function as an active place of worship where you can attend services and explore the historical architecture. Visiting outside of prayer times gives you better access to see the interior spaces without interruption.
The complex contains a historic water cistern with a barrel-vaulted portico, a structure found nowhere else in Latin America. This cistern was essential for supplying water to the monastery and shows the practical engineering solutions of the early colonial period.
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