Possibly the earliest religious structure in the Atotonilco area, the ruined chapel of San Pedro Boxfi, is now located in the cemetery of this town barrio.
Of substantial stone construction, the now roofless structure retains most of its facade, which probably dates to the late 16th century.
Like its neighbors, the broad arched doorway is spanned by huge blocks densely carved with reliefs, in this case a sequence of human or animal figures emerging from spiraling foliage, that terminates in Aztec type speech scrolls. Slotted scrolls adorn the jambs and flanking pilasters.
Outlying pilasters and a large overhead cornice, form a kind of alfiz above the doorway, and over that is an empty niche carved with rosettes.
One unusual feature is the remains of a broad rectangular band spanning the upper facade, inlaid with white stone in which were embedded large sculpted brownstone rosettes, only one remains of four originally.
Although this chapel was built by the Franciscans, no insignia of the order appear on the facade. The only evidence of their heritage is a sculpted shield of the Stigmata set on the remaining pilaster of the former sanctuary arch inside the nave.
text © 2024 Richard D. Perry
images adapted from online sources.
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