This article highlights the Santo Domingo Cultural Center, one of the top institutions in Oaxaca City.
In Oaxaca’s historic center, there is a museum dedicated to encapsulating the cultures of the huge state under one roof. Whoooaaaaaa. Tough task.
The state is composed of 8 distinctive zones and has more than 2,000 years of history. Three-quarters of the municipalities are governed by a customs and traditions administration. There are 16 officially recognized indigenous groups.
These facts made the state a hodgepodge of religions, customs, gastronomy, crafts, and languages. It may be difficult to resume all that cultural diversity in one spot but the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures gives a glimpse of how the people of the state have lived and thrived throughout the years.
The museum is famous for being the house of the Treasure of Tomb 7. This Mixtec (people who used Monte Alban as a cemetery once the Zapotecs decayed) burial site was discovered by Mexican archaeologist Alfonso Caso. Gold, copper, jade, turquoise, and precious stones artifacts found on the archeological site are now on display to the public.
The museum is just one of the offerings at the Santo Domingo Center. An antique library, an ethnobotanical garden, and the architectural details of the ex-convent are waiting to be explored.
Take a look at how this place looks. Enjoy!
Main Facade of Santo Domingo Church
Side Entrance of Santo Domingo Church
Santo Domingo Plaza
Inner Courtyards
Treasure of Tomb 7 (found in Monte Alban)
Ethno Botanical Garden
How to Visit
The Santo Domingo Cultural Center is located in Oaxaca’s Historic Center. It is a short walk from the main plaza (the city’s Cathedral and the Santo Domingo Temple are connected by the Macedonio Alcala Street, also known as the Andador Turistico).
The entrance fee is between $3 to $4 (depend on the peso to dollar exchange). The Cultural Center is closed on Mondays.
Would you like to visit this Cultural Center? Let me know in the comments section below.
Dasha says
Oaxaca, un lugar inigualable en el mundo. Tiene tan sabosra gastronomia, frutas que son tan sabosras y que yo no las habia comido en otro lugar, tiene sus bahias en huatulco, las artesanias son de lo mejor, sus pueblos son magicos, los tamales tan variadas, esas tlayudas de Zaachila que ricas, los ricos frijolitos con hieba de conejo,la magnifica birria que sirven el Tlacolula y en El Tule, Oaxaca es un tesoro con sus trajes tipicos. arriba oaxaca. me encanto este estado .saludos desde Guadalajara Jalisco.