After crumbling in the 2017 earthquake, 17th century Puebla temple restored to former glory

The historical Temple of La Merced, which sits connected the slopes of the Popocatépetl volcano successful Atlixco, Puebla, has been structurally restored aft its dome collapsed during the 2017 earthquake.

The devastating Sept. 19, 2017, earthquake successful Puebla, often known arsenic 19S successful Mexico, killed 370 radical and injured thousands aft dozens of buildings collapsed successful the greater Mexico City area.

The historical religion was severely damaged successful the 2017 quake. (via La Jornada de Oriente)

Now, astir a decennary later, 1 beloved portion of Mexican past that was damaged successful the quake has been restored.

Built successful 1668 by the Catholic Order of the Redemption of the Captives, the temple is of historical value successful the portion arsenic it was portion of a convent built successful 1619, erstwhile the Mercedarians expanded their beingness successful New Spain supported by residents of Spanish descent.

The restoration works were carried retired betwixt September and December 2024, by the Ministry of Culture of the Government of Mexico successful collaboration with specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) nether the National Reconstruction Program (PNR).

A squad of restorers, architects, structural experts, vault specialists, artisans and tradespeople worked unneurotic to reconstruct the dome utilizing humanities photographs. With a diameter of 8.5 meters and a tallness of 6 meters, the dome consists of 8 segments on with skylights (windows) and a lantern. The workers preserved the dome’s archetypal benignant and quality portion enhancing its structural security, stableness and durability, according to an INAH property release.

In precocious February, absorption of the religion was handed backmost to assemblage spiritual leaders, who volition signifier the past steps of the restoration. (CINAH Puebla)

Head of INAH Puebla, Manuel Villarreal Vázquez, noted that the temple “was restored successful respective stages, during which walls, arches, and immoderate vaults were consolidated.” The dome country was temporarily covered to let parishioners to proceed utilizing the country portion specialized investigation and administrative procedures for its restoration continued.

Villareal said that the biggest situation was keeping the signifier akin to the original, but with a lighter, slimmer operation to supply greater enactment and security.

He further explained that restoration efforts absorption connected recovering the archetypal values, appearance, and operation materials of historical structures, portion documenting the interventions made during a restoration process.

In this case, the restoration is evident successful the exterior moldings of the dome, Villareal said, which person been visually differentiated. This allows aboriginal historians oregon restorers to easy place the archetypal and reconstructed elements.

The dome country was temporarily covered to let worshipers to usage the religion during the restoration process. (CINAH Puebla)

Still, determination are immoderate pending works that volition beryllium done successful the aboriginal with enactment from the community. Villareal said that immoderate of these works see level renovation, attraction and coating of the facade, among others.

The authoritative handover of the gathering took spot connected Feb. 27, astatine the community’s request. A wide was celebrated successful grant of the INAH Puebla Center, with information of the national and section authorities that contributed to the temple’s rehabilitation.

Mexico News Daily