This rehabilitated former convent, previously a dilapidated jail, is now a first-class art museum and includes a room dedicated to the work of local magic realist artist, Rodolfo Morales. Morales was responsible for driving much of the restoration of the building which began in 1995. His ashes are interred here too.
After enjoying the art, it's also worth perusing the adjacent church framed by a lovely avenue of slender trees.
Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca
19.19 MILES
Got two hours? You'll need it for the Museum of Oaxacan Cultures, housed in the beautiful monastery buildings adjoining the Templo de Santo Domingo. This鈥
18.58 MILES
The former capital of the Zapotec people is today an illustrious ruin, but for over a thousand years it served as the second-largest ceremonial site in鈥
26.88 MILES
Natural springs have never looked this good. Set in truly ethereal surroundings amid low brush-covered mountains, Hierve El Agua (meaning 'the water boils鈥
19.16 MILES
Gorgeous Santo Domingo is the most splendid of Oaxaca鈥檚 churches, with a finely carved baroque facade and nearly every square centimeter inside decorated鈥
22.93 MILES
Second only to Monte Alb谩n in their importance, though not as old, the ruins of ancient Mitla date from the final two or three centuries before the鈥
21.03 MILES
If you like your pre-Hispanic Mexican ruins suitably 鈥榬uined鈥 and crowd-free without compromising on authenticity or spectacular setting, opt for Atzompa鈥
Centro de las Artes de San Agust铆n
28.5 MILES
Pretty San Agust铆n's large, early-20th-century textile mill has been superbly restored as the Centro de las Artes de San Agust铆n (CaSa), a spectacular鈥
17.75 MILES
Visitors flock to the village of El Tule to behold El 脕rbol del Tule, which is, by some counts, the fattest tree in the world. California's General鈥
1. Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca
11.71 MILES
San Bartolo's excellent, modern, folk-art museum, with its bright pink facade, is on the south side of the main village plaza. It鈥檚 very nicely done and鈥
11.73 MILES
It was do帽a Rosa Real Mateo (1900鈭80) who invented the method of burnishing barro negro with quartz stones for the distinctive shine. Her family鈥
12.14 MILES
Ancient Zaachila, rather like Mitla, was a post-Classic Zapotec city that took root after the demise of Monte Alb谩n. It was later conquered by the Mixtecs鈥
15.47 MILES
Standing by the highway in dusty Cuilapan, the Ex Convento Dominicano (aka Santiago Ap贸stol) with its pale 'green' stone walls seems almost to grow out of鈥
17.08 MILES
A popular place to taste and buy artisan mezcal right next to the fields where they grow the agave. Granted, it's a hot spot on the tour-bus circuit (if鈥
17.2 MILES
Tlacolula's main church is notable for its ornate baroque side-chapel, known colloquially as the Capilla de la Plata (Silver Chapel), a dazzling riot of鈥
17.75 MILES
Visitors flock to the village of El Tule to behold El 脕rbol del Tule, which is, by some counts, the fattest tree in the world. California's General鈥
18.28 MILES
The 40m-high South Platform, with its wide staircase, is the tallest in Monte Alb谩n and is great for a panorama of the plaza and the surrounding mountains鈥