Kaleidoscope of Cultures

It was in the 17th Century that the Santo Domingo de Guzman Church and Convent rose into the landscape of Uayma, though the Spanish had used the site for religious activities for almost one hundred years prior. Built in the classic “mission-style” that can be observed throughout present-day Mexico and what once was New Spain, the structure was partially built with stone from nearby Mayan temples, which are still visible today. So while records have Santo Domingo’s founding as 1646, its bones are much older, carrying the history of the indigenous cultures centuries before the Spanish arrived.

In an effort to attract the surrounding Mayan population to its religious services, the site was painted in a fusion of Mayan and Spanish patterns and iconography, creating the effect of a starry sky present throughout the religious campus. The double-headed eagle above, typically associated with the Habsburg dynasty that ruled Spain at the time, serves as a less-than-subtle hint of who ultimately held power, regardless of shared painted patterns.

The long subjugation of the indigenous Maya came to a head in the Caste Wars starting in 1863, and the colorful church was one of the many casualties in the conflict due to its symbolic status of Spanish power. Burned to the ground, the former Dominican-controlled center would lie in ruin for the next 140 years.

In the late 20th Century, it was decided to rebuild the church and revive the dilapidated structure. Opening in 2004, the church and convent were meticulously restored to their former glory–taking great care to repaint the unique patterns that once graced the religious structures. Santo Domingo de Guzmán is once again known as one of the most beautiful churches within the Yucatán peninsula. More importantly, this new version includes Mayan history with its own, sharing the stories of all Uayma’s people with any wandering visitor–something more beautiful than any restored facade.