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On the eastern side of the Historic Center, is located this impressive temple, which has its roots in the historic convent of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, whose construction dates back to the dawn of the eighteenth century. This site embodies the richness of our architectural heritage and is a living testimony of our cultural history.
The Temple of Santa Teresa la Nueva, an architectural jewel of the early eighteenth century, was erected by the Order of the Discalced Carmelites as an extension of the Convent of San José.
This temple is a living testimony of our history and culture, and its strategic location in the center of the city is enhanced by an exquisite fountain designed by the renowned architect Manuel Tolsá.
It is interesting to note that, according to historian Francisco de la Maza in his work “Arquitectura de los coros de monjas en México,” this place was characterized for being the most modest religious precinct in all of New Spain at the time.
Construction of Santa Teresa la nueva
The Temple of Santa Teresa la Nueva is one of the latest constructions of its kind. When planning began in the early eighteenth century, there were already eighteen convents dedicated to women throughout Mexico City.
This particularity had several implications, since, in order to obtain the necessary authorization to build a convent, it was imperative not to be in excessive proximity to other convents. This was done to prevent them from interfering with each other in matters such as water supply, which at that time presented considerable challenges, as mentioned by historian Graciela Bernal Ruiz in her work “El convento de Santa Teresa la Nueva de la Ciudad de México” (The Convent of Santa Teresa la Nueva in Mexico City).
Initially, another site was considered for the Temple of Santa Teresa, specifically on Tacuba Street, in the vicinity of the old Convent of Santa Clara.
However, this place, apart from being close to other places of religious worship such as the novitiate of San Andrés of the Society of Jesus, the Convent of Betlemitas and Santa Clara itself, proved to be unfeasible due to its insufficient size.
Consequently, the decision was made to move the project to the Plaza de San Gregorio, as it was known at the time, now known as Plaza de Loreto. This land had been part of the old San Lázaro Hospital, dedicated to the care of people suffering from leprosy.
The construction of the temple was in charge of the architect Pedro de Arrieta, recognized for his contribution to other emblematic baroque buildings in Mexico City, such as the Palace of the Inquisition (currently in the Republic of Brazil), the sacristy of Santo Domingo de Guzmán (just across the street), the Temple of Corpus Christi (in front of the Alameda) and the church of La Profesa (located in Isabel la Católica). In addition, Arrieta served as master builder at the city’s majestic Cathedral.
It is relevant to mention that the current temple does not preserve the original structure of baroque style, since during its reconstruction in the 19th century, an eclectic architectural approach was chosen, mainly influenced by the Greco-Roman currents of neoclassicism. This architectural transformation has left a unique mark in the history of the temple.
The historic Templo de Santa Teresa la Nueva was founded and dedicated on December 5, 1704, marking an event of great importance in the history of the city. In this memorable ceremony, prominent viceregal authorities went to the Convent of San José and knocked on its door. Inside, the nuns waited in anticipation and, in an emotional gesture, opened the door, slowly emerging with black veils covering their faces. They marched solemnly toward St. Therese the New, singing the Te Deum Laudamus.
According to the agreed protocol, the last to leave was the nun Teresa de Jesús, who assumed the position of prioress during the first twelve years of existence of the new convent, under the authorization of Pope Clement XI. The dedication was solemnly crowned with the sound of the bells of the majestic Metropolitan Cathedral, symbolizing the foundation of the new religious precinct.
However, over the years, due to the Law of Disentailment of Ecclesiastical Goods of June 1856, which caused the exclaustration of nuns, the convent lost its original function and currently only the temple remains standing.
In September 1870, after serving as warehouses and classrooms, the rest of the convent was transformed into the National School for the Blind, which had an important precedent in the Municipal School for the Deaf and Dumb, founded by Ignacio Trigueros in 1866, and which continues to operate to this day.
The Carmelite order, whose legacy dates back to the 16th century in the city (1585), established its convents in the 17th century, when other religious orders had already taken deep root in New Spain. This rich religious history is a testament to the profound influence of religious orders on the life of the city.
