A Visual Catalog of the Building Complexes of the Male Religious Orders in Mexico’s Colonial Cities

The first male missionary religious order, the Franciscans, arrived in Nueva Espana (Mexico) in 1524, and were followed by others. The male missionary religious orders played an important role in the evangelization of indigenous peoples, but also had a presence in urban centers where they had churches and large complexes built. This book surveys what remains of these complexes in Mexico City, Puebla, and other selected colonial cities, and briefly discusses the history of the complexes. This study will be of interest to historians, architects, and art historians interested in the role of the male orders in urban development, and the state of this unique architectural patrimony.