Barroque Cuartet, Puebla-Morelos

To the south of Cuautla in Morelos state border with the State of Puebla, there are 4 mysterious monuments of the colonial era: the Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno in Tepalcingo and temples Jolalpan St. Mary, St. Luke and St. Tzicatlan Mary Tlancualpican. They are stone buildings, typical of colonial architecture, but with striking facades of plaster or plaster that had no equivalents in the rest of New Spain.
The peoples of Tepalcingo Jolalpan, Tlancualpican Tzicatlan and are located not far from the territories Augustinians. Following the discovery of the image of Lord of Chalma in the cave of the god Oxtoteotl in 1539, chose the Augustinian Order as a means of evangelization, the worship of images of Christ crucified, Christ appeared in general. The most famous was the Christ of St. William Totolapan which appeared in 1543, Father Antonio de Roa. Christocentricity apparently was adopted without opposition by the inhabitants of the region that they interpreted their own way, adding other meanings: Christ-Sol, Christ Young or Old Christ.
It is not surprising therefore that the Christ is the central element of the facades of Jolalpan-Tepalcingo and where it is located high in the auction-like and Tlancualpican Tzicatlan those which "levitates" above the entrance gate. This representation is not very common in colonial facades of mortar, they are not very frequent other decorative elements, some anachronistic or exotic, shaped by indigenous artists.
The Sanctuary of Jesus Nazareno (Morelos)
In Tepalcingo, about 40 km southeast of the city of Cuautla, is known for its traditional fair on the third Friday of Lent. Since colonial times, meet Tepalcingo traders and artisans from throughout the region to exhibit and sell their goods or their production: shawls, mortars and grinding stones, painted furniture, machetes and especially Olinala lacquers, but are becoming less numerous Olinala artisans participating in the fair.
The shrine is an imposing building of harmonious proportions. Its two tall towers, decorated with sun, moon and stars frame the facade of mortar. It was probably painted in the past with bright colors and lively, but since its recent restoration, it boasts a Venetian red streaks.
Santa Maria Jolalpan (State of Puebla).
From Tepalcingo, the road toward the southeast, crossing the town of Axochiapan and turn resolutely towards the south along the river Nepaxa through dense tropical vegetation, from which emerge wide thistles. The people of Jolalpan appears shortly after the start of the ravine.
The Temple of Santa Maria is a medium sized building and has a single tower. An inscription suggests a date of construction by the year 1753. The front-tableau, two bodies and finishing circular, has much resemblance to the facade of the Shrine of Tepalcingo which probably was inspired, but the composition of the decoration is more dynamic.

Luke Tzicatlan (State of Puebla). Among Tepalcingo and Jolalpan, lies the small town of Tzicatlan and its temple dedicated to Saint Luke the Evangelist. It is a small building with a tower and an elegant facade painted with bright colors. A side door as the date of construction indicates the year of 1761. Its most notable-that give rhythm-are the curtains that open onto the niches and on the window. The first section is occupied by a gate-lobed, surrounded by 4 pairs of columns of exuberant decoration and the sculptures of St. Peter and St. Paul. A Christ and two angels with harps levitated above the gate. In the second body, found on each side of the window many characters floating around the columns. San Lucas with his bull is at the center of a slightly rough finish.
Santa Maria Tlancualpican (State of Puebla). The church of Santa Maria Tlacualpican, the most sober of the four is hidden amongst some lofty laurels to India. Its handsome tower attached to the facade has interesting details of mortar, four devils at the top of the tower, painted red fireman, guard the four cardinal points under some balconies that look after the rest of the building drop chubby angels pink-probably another reminiscence of God descending prehispanic.
The four monuments that just described left intrigued visitors and specialists. Even one of the greatest art historians, Manuel Toussaint, hesitated to call them when baroque. However, despite being an extreme example of the Baroque, fit the definition given to it often: an aesthetic of cultural mixing, of change and exuberance.
As for their aesthetic value, Reyes Valerio notes "the clumsy implementation, clustering and child composition, anatomical disproportion almost monstrous, bevel technique, the hieratic, the heaviness and simplicity of expressions, the coarse modeling and how more defects are like. " The same description could apply to any work of the European Middle Ages, therefore, Reyes Valerio concludes that "all this does not diminish its value."
Leaving aside the discussion of experts on the origin or classification of these monuments, we can see and appreciate them as are extraordinary works of art executed by some Indians who were able to take advantage of the versatility of the Baroque style and flexibility of the mortar to express with great strength and sincerity of what they understood their new faith and what they could of their ancient religion.
Getting There:
By car: Tepalcingo is located about 40 km south of Cuautla. The furthest away, Jolalpan, some 40 km further south. The roads are in good condition.
By public transport: They go out daily from several vans for Tepalcingo Cuautla. There is little public transport from Tepalcingo to other temples, it is preferable to have own car.