Capilla del Rosario, Santo Domingo

Capilla del Rosario is a Baroque chapel in Puebla City covered entirely in gold leaf that gleams across its walls, ceilings, and altar. The interior is small and intimate, filled with reflective surfaces that catch and bounce light throughout the space.

Construction began in 1650 under Dominican friar Juan de Cuenca and took about 40 years to complete. It was built during an era when Puebla was prosperous and wealthy religious institutions expanded their decorative ambitions.

The chapel displays Catholic religious images alongside regional artistic traditions, including six paintings of biblical stories and handcrafted Talavera tiles. You can see how local craftsmanship and religious devotion blend together in a single decorated space.

The chapel is located within the Church of Santo Domingo and can be reached through the pedestrian 5 de Mayo street from Puebla's main square. Since the interior is small, it is best to visit early in the day when fewer people are around.

The gold coating was applied using a specialized adhesive mixture that has preserved it for over three centuries without significant loss. This ancient technique proved so effective that the original gilded surfaces remain nearly intact today.