Description of the attraction
The Church of San Bernardo is located at the corner of 20 November and Venustiano Carranza Streets, south of Mexico City's central Zocalo Square. It was part of a monastery founded in 1636 and dedicated to the same Saint Bernardo. The monastery, like many other sacral institutions, was closed during the Reformation in 1861. The monastery was destroyed and the 20 November street was built in its place. The Church of San Bernardo has survived.
The history of this temple is unusual. He had many high-ranking patrons. Even his appearance is associated with the large donations of the rich man Juan Marquez de Orozco. He bequeathed his entire considerable fortune to the Church on the condition that the money be used to build an abbey of the Cistercian Order. After the death of Marquez de Orozco Juan Retes de Largache, the Marquis de São Jorge became the patron saint of the future holy monastery and acquired a plot of land for the construction of a monastery and a church under him. The main architect of the temple was Juan Zepeda. In the 18th century, Miguel de Berrio y Salvidar, Count de San Mateo de Valparaiso, funded the renovation of the Church of San Bernardo. The temple was re-consecrated in 1777.
Most of the surface of the facades of the temple is covered with slabs of volcanic reddish stone. Two sculptures are installed in the baroque niches - one depicts the heavenly patron of the church of St. Bernardo, and the other - the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. The statue of the Virgin Mary was originally in the monastery, but after its demolition it was moved to the facade of the temple.
In the interior of the Temple of San Bernardo, a large altar made in a neoclassical manner attracts attention.
