Museum of the Baroque
Today we will be exploring the incredible Museum of the Baroque. This museum is found in Puebla, Mexico and showcases the special bond that the art style shares with the country. Baroque arrived in the Americas during the 17th Century thanks to Spanish and Portuguese Jesuit Priests. As a result, there is an incredible legacy of art and architecture that remains from this period.
This museum should be one of the first places you visit if you want to explore Central Mexico. The Baroque style is meant to be quite extravagant and the style became known locally as Churrigueresque. The influences of Baroque can be found all across latin America, from Brazil to Mexico. Baroque impacted all parts of society including music, art, clothing and architecture. We especially enjoyed exploring this museum and learning about its unique connection to the history of Mexico.
This museum has many traditional exhibits – paintings, sculptures and musical instruments – as well as many interactive displays. The Museum is designed to tell the story of Baroque, both through the walls of the museum and the exhibits found within. This museum first opened in 2016 and is housed inside of an incredible building designed by Japanese architect Toyoo Ito. The building itself is worth the price of admission.
The extravagant nature of the Baroque contrasts nicely against simple curved and modern walls of the gallery. It is clean viewing experience that allows for a circular flow of the museum. This is mirrored by the central courtyard, which has whirlpool at its center.
The design of the museum – according to the architects – was to “break and dissolve the cold and rigid order to achieve fluid spaces. We hope that when people move from one room to another, they experience a baroque space.“Puebla is the perfect setting for this museum. The historic center of the UNESCO heritage city is itself a monument to Baroque. Central Puebla has over 70 churches and many buildings preserved from the colonial period.
Churrigueresque influences can be found everywhere in Mexico. There are many incredible destinations throughout Central Mexico where Baroque styles can be found. From the Zacatecas Cathedral to the Metropolitan Tabernacle attached to the Cathedral in Mexico City, the Baroque style reigns supreme.
After our visit to the Museum of the Baroque, we felt a little bit more confident exploring the churches and other attractions in central Puebla.
We look forward to using this knowledge the next time we travel through Central Mexico, someday in the future. Until then, we will continue to showcase more pictures from our most recent trip. There are many more hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
The Museum of the Baroque should be at the top of everyone's travel list, especially if you want to learn more about Mexico. It was definitely one of our favourite attractions in Puebla. We're excited to share this secret with everyone.
Museum of the Baroque
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