Capilla abierta
A capilla abierta or “open chapel” is considered to be one of the most distinct
Structure
The capilla abierta was an open apse or presbytery of a reduced size, located on the ground floor or the first floor (which allowed for greater visibility) and opening onto a large atrium or plaza. The main idea is to allow the large number of people to congregate in front of a single altar.
Almost all open chapels were part of a larger structure, whether it was the main church or the cloister of the monastery. One significant exception is the chapel in Actopan, Hidalgo.[4]
The most important feature of the open chapels was to allow the largest number of people possible to congregate in front of a single altar and have that altar visible to all. This is one reason why all capilla abiertas were built facing a large atrium or other open area. One of the most obvious features for visibility was to have the chapel located on an upper floor, such as the one located in Tlahueilpa. However, other architectural designs appear with this goal in mind. In San Juan Teposcolula, the buttresses holding up the roof were placed so that they did not block the view from any point in the atrium.[3]
In some cases, the open chapel inspired designs for covered churches. The cathedral for
Purpose
The open chapel was predominantly used during the very early colonial period (16th century) in central Mexico, then called
Some sources state that the capilla abiertas were constructed because the native populations in the 16th century were too afraid to enter the dark confines of European style churches.[2] However, a number of these chapels predate their traditional church counterparts, sometimes by decades or more.[1][6][7] The most likely reason for their construction was the fact that in the early colonial period, there was an enormous number of indigenous people and few friars and priests to evangelize and say Mass. The need for these chapels is mentioned by Toribio de Benavente who writes that they are needed along with large atriums to hold numbers of people who could not fit inside the church on Sundays and during festivals. During the slow times, such as mid-week, the main church was used.[3] Another advantage the open chapel/atrium arrangement afforded was that it had similarities to the old teocallis, or sacred precincts of pre-Hispanic temples.[4]
The idea of an open chapel to serve multitudes was not completely new, as there are precedents on the
The chapels represent one of the first steps of the cultural integration after the
Examples of open chapels
The open chapel is considered to be one of the most unusual construction types from Mexico in world architecture.
The capilla abierta of Tlalmanalco was constructed by the
The capilla abierta of Coixtlahuaca is adjacent to the Church of San Juan Bautista, in San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca, Oaxaca. It is square with a trapezoid apse covered by a ribbed vault. To the right of the chapel is a kind of a sacristy with had a flat, wood-bean roof, since disappeared. On that roof was a choir with views of the open chapel from its balcony. Some of the decorative work included friezes of dragon heads and pelicans. This chapel was formally called the “Chapel of the Indians” and believed to have been built before the main church. Today it lies in ruins and has not been restored.[6]
The capilla abierta of Teposcolula, one of the biggest open chapels, is a variant of the portico type but slightly more complicated. It is formed by two naves covered by wood which separate an arcade with five arches. The outer nave is open to the atrium. In the center, was the space for the altar covered by an octagonal groin vault. It is similar to a multi-naved church.[3]
In Tizatlan, Tlaxcala, the capilla abierta was constructed very similarly to the pre-Hispanic altars with paintings. The main church was not built until the 17th century and the open chapel was incorporated as the apse.[7] The former monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion, now the Cathedral of Tlaxcala has two atriums. The more elevated one has a belltower with an open chapel in which one of the first plays in Nahuatl directed by the friars was performed.[1]
One of the most-visited historic monuments in the State of Mexico is the open chapel of Calimaya. This chapel was constructed in 1529 by the Franciscans for evangelization purposes. The construction has three main parts: the chapel with six arches, the apse with an altar from the 16th century, and the baptistery. The altar is referred to as the “Señor del Cuerito” for the oil painting of Christ to which has been attributed a significant number of miracles. This is one of the first evangelization centers in Mexico.[9]
In the Yucatan Peninsula, two examples of capilla abiertas can be found in the former Mayan cities of Dzibilchaltun and Oxtancah. Dzibilchaltun is located near Mérida and has a pyramid known as the Temple of the Seven Dolls (Templo de las Siete Muñecas) which is located near a natural water well. Between this well and the pyramid was constructed an open chapel, breaking the trajectory between the pyramid and the once-sacred well. Oxtancah is located near Chetumal. Here conquistador Alonso de Avila constructed an open chapel over one of the Mayan temples. One of the walls contains the images of three Spanish style ships from that era. Due to strong native resistance, this early Spanish settlement only lasted a few years, but the chapel remains.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Diazmunoz, Ricardo; Maryell Ortiz de Zarate (December 10, 2000). "Encuentros con Mexico/ Andanzas para recordar" [Encounters with Mexico/Trails to remember]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 4.
- ^ )
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Yarza Luaces, Joaquín. "Una iglesia y un espacio abiertos: las capillas de indios" [One church and one open space: the chapels of the Indians]. Arte e Historia (in Spanish). Spain: Junta de Castillo y León. Archived from the original on April 29, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Capilla abierta" [Open Chapel] (in Spanish). ARQHYS Architects’ Website. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Rios Szalay, Adalberto (April 21, 2002). "Ecos de Viaje/ Capillas abiertas" [Travel Echos/Open Chapels]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 22.
- ^ a b Gálvez Vivar, Joel F (July 18, 2009). "Esplendorosa Capilla abierta o de Indios" [Splendid Open chapel of Chapel of the Indians]. Despertar de Oaxaca (in Spanish). Oaxaca. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ a b Manrique, Jorge Alberto (January 4, 1998). "Conservacion de las artes nacionales" [Conservation of national arts]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 1.
- ^ "Capilla Abierta de Tlalmanalco" [Open Chapel of Tlalmanalco] (in Spanish). Mexico: INDAABIN. Archived from the original on December 23, 2009. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
- ^ Valdespino, Martha (June 28, 2001). "Desdena el turismo Capilla de Calimaya" [Tourism spurns the Chapel of Calimaya]. Reforma (in Spanish). Mexico City. p. 1.