Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco

The church was built between 1751 and 1759 by José de la Borda (ca. 1700–1778), who had made a great fortune in the silver mines surrounding the town. Despite his wealth, however, the opulence of the church nearly bankrupted him. The construction of the church of Santa Prisca in Taxco lasted 15 years and was aimed at creating a space where the priest Manuel de la Borda--son of José de la Borda, benefactor and founder of the parish--could officiate mass. Although he had arrived in Taxco only about thirty-five years before the construction of the Santa Prisca temple, José de la Borda was already one of the most important figures in the mineral, which is why the Archbishopric of Mexico allowed him to erect the parish your entire taste. Cayetano José de Siguenza drew the plans in the form of a very narrow Latin cross due to the conditions of the land and the architect Diego Durán Berruecos built it between 1751 and 1759. The altarpieces were designed by the brothers Isidoro Vicente and Luis de Balbás (adoptive sons of Jerónimo, the Mexican Churrigueresque master) who took advantage of the structure of the building to trace the symbolic and religious axes. ==Description==

The parish is located in a small hollow with respect to the rest of the city of Taxco artificially leveled. It has a Latin cross plan, with a side nave that serves as a chapel for the altar of the Souls and a tribune on a street with Gothic ribbed vaults with tiercerons with a decorated main key that camouflages access to the Sagrario (sanctuary). It has two twin towers in the Churrigueresque style and a chapel decorated with Talavera azulejos, characteristic of New Spanish architecture. The main facade is oriented to the west as was the custom, and in it classicist pilasters are combined with Solomonic columns used in the 17th century, which combined with posters, scrolls, ribbons, foliage, niches with saints, shields, diamond points, etc. arrive at an abundance of elements. The oldest document of the parish archive dates from 1598. ==Legend of Santa Prisca==

There is a legend associated with the Santa Prisca Church. While it was in construction, José de la Borda left Taxco on business to Guanajuato, leaving construction work to the builders. Soon after Borda left, the sky filled with black clouds and cold winds struck the streets, whistling through the towers of the unfinished church. The dark and cold terrified the workmen as the large storm approached. Suddenly a large bolt of lightning struck showing an undefined black silhouette that was swooping down on the church. Then it struck the cupola of the church, lighting it brilliantly. All of the tile covering the cupola began to shine with strange lights, allowing the inscription "Gloria a Dios en las alturas y paz en la tierra a los hombres de buena voluntad" (Glory to God in the Highest and peace on earth for men with good will) to be seen clearly. The whole town got down on their knees to pray, fearing that angry demons would destroy the church. Floating around the church were flashes of light and above the church appeared a beautiful woman who, smiling and with a peaceful face, caught the following lightning bolts in her hands. == Gallery ==

File:Santa Prisca HDR Photography Claudio Giovenzana www.longwalk.it.jpg|Interior of the temple, Templo de Santa Prisca de Taxco. File:Calle del arco - panoramio.jpg|The passageway to the Sagrario on Calle del Arco. File:Órgano monumental de Santa Prisca.JPG|Choir. File:Retablo impresionante de la Santa Prisca - panoramio.jpg|Altarpiece. File:AltarPriscaTaxco1.JPG|Reredos File:AltarPriscaTaxco4.JPG|Reredos File:FurnitureSacristyTaxco.JPG|Sacristy furniture. File:Parroquia de Santa Prisca 16.jpg|Dome. File:Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (Mexico) in the 1940s.jpg|Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco in the 1940s. File:Main altar of the Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco in 1908.jpg|Main altar of the Church in 1908. INAH. File:Templo de Santa Prisca (Taxco - Mexico) (28001689088).jpg|Roof File:Parroquia de Santa Prisca Taxco detalle superior de fachada.JPG|Upper facade File:Parroquia de Santa Prisca Taxco 2.jpg|The portal File:The Martyrdom of Saint Prisca (1760) by Miguel Cabrera.jpg|The Martyrdom of St. Prisca (1760) by Miguel Cabrera. Located inside. == See also ==