Saint Rose of Viterbo Church and Convent

Saint Rose of Viterbo Church is a Baroque temple in Santiago de Querétaro featuring five ornate altarpieces decorated with vegetal motifs, crowns, and angel figures. These altars were hand-painted in the 18th century and remain visible to visitors today.

Construction of the temple began in the late 1600s and was completed in 1752 under the direction of Francisco Martínez and Ignacio Mariano de las Casas. The project reflected the religious fervor of Mexico's Spanish colonial period.

Inside the former convent area, visitors can view life-sized sculptures of the Last Supper and portraits of religious figures from colonial times. These pieces show how the community expressed and shared its faith during that period.

The temple is open to visitors from Tuesday through Friday, making it best to plan your visit during these weekday hours. Early afternoon provides good natural light for viewing the detailed altarpieces and painted surfaces.

The bell tower combines Baroque and Islamic architectural styles in an unexpected way. This rare blend reflects the cultural exchange that occurred during the colonial era.