Pre-Hispanic culture and the Spanish conquest are mixed in the infrastructure of the former Franciscan convent of San Andrés Calpan, Puebla, and each of its elements reflects the history of the region. Through a tour, MULTIMEDIOS Puebla appreciated the religious site, which receives thousands of tourists seeking to learn more about Mexican culture and its preservation.
In an interview with MULTIMEDIOS Puebla, Francisco Damián, one of the tour guides of the site, explained that said building reflects a history of at least three thousand years, in which the history of the demarcation is narrated. In this sense, he said that there are multiple elements that have generated an attraction for the citizens, an example of them being the engravings present in the chapels that are part of the convent.
This is because there are representations that mix pre-Hispanic culture and how the Spanish conquest was experienced in the region, contemplating characters of the Catholic religion. Through the details in the chapels, it is also possible to observe pre-Hispanic deities, which are combined with images of Jesus, Mary and angels.
He stressed that this situation makes the former convent of Calpan a unique place, since, unlike other buildings of this type, it contains a combination of cultures.
“The convent has a lot of history to tell, it contains both pre-Hispanic and Catholic engravings, it is an ancient land… what people who come like the most are the engravings,” he said.
Another of the elements that stand out in the former convent of Calpan is that, in ancient times, the backyard was used to plant walnut trees, as well as Castilian trees, the latter being one of the culinary characteristics of the region. Francisco Damián explained that, thanks to this situation, the municipality is known as the Cradle of the Castilian nut, which has made the district one of the main exponents of chile en nogada.
Martín López, originally from Mexico City and who visited the religious temple, highlighted the importance of promoting and preserving this type of buildings, since they are a tangible representation of the country’s history. After visiting the former convent, he said that he had a unique experience, a result of the infrastructure of the place, also serving to learn more about historical sites.
“It’s nice to come and see them because one takes a bit of history with one; so, one should always visit these places anywhere; at the end of the day, each one leaves an unparalleled experience,” he said.
It is worth remembering that the place was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995, which increases the relevance of visiting this building in the state of Puebla.
Source: milenio
