Description of the attraction
The Church of Nuestra Senora de Loreta, which in Spanish sounds like the temple of Our Lady of Loretana, stands out sharply among the buildings that surround it. The architectural style of this sacred building is a cross between baroque and neoclassicism. The façade, which features a religious relief, is decorated in a baroque manner, while the temple's spiers are clearly neoclassical. However, the temple does not seem pretentious or out of harmony. The restorers who worked on the renovation of the church managed to achieve the perfect balance between the original design and the subsequent changes made to the appearance of the temple.
This church, located in Piazza Loreto, was erected in 1675 by the Jesuit Order and was part of the College of Saints Peter and Paul. After the expulsion of the Jesuit order from Mexico in 1767, the Church of the Gods of Loretana became the property of the city. Its reconstruction was carried out by the famous architect Manuel Tolsa, a close friend of the governor. The merit of this master is considered not only the expansion of the temple, but also the construction of the dome in the neoclassical style. The dome is clearly visible from the intersection of Rodriguez Puebla and Loreto Streets.
The one-nave temple is famous for the image of Our Lady of Lorethan with the Child, which was brought to Mexico in 1675 by the Jesuit father Juan Zappa. This statue was placed on a silver pedestal.
Today hundreds of people attend the church. Among the parishioners, employees of aviation companies can be noted, since the Virgin Mary of Loretanskaya is considered the patroness of pilots.
