Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco
Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco (Parroquia de Santa Prisca y San Sebastián) is a colonial church in Taxco de Alarcón, Guerrero, Mexico. Built from 1751 to 1759 on the orders of José de la Borda, a wealthy silver mine owner, it stands on the east side of Taxco’s main plaza. From 1758 to 1806 it was the tallest building in Mexico. The church is regarded as one of the finest examples of New Spanish Baroque, specifically the Churrigueresque style.
The church has a narrow Latin-cross plan shaped by the land. It features two tall twin towers on the west-facing façade and a richly decorated exterior with classical elements, Solomonic columns, and abundant ornamentation. Inside, nine large wooden altarpieces are covered in gold leaf, designed to integrate with the architectural whole. The main altarpiece is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and the city’s patron saints, Saint Prisca and Saint Sebastian. In the transept chapels are altarpieces for the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Virgin of the Rosary. The Balbás brothers created many of the altars, while Miguel Cabrera—the famed Mexican painter—contributed works such as the Martyrdoms of Saint Sebastian and Saint Prisca, and an Assumption kept in the sacristy.
The church is built of stone, and the interior features nine full-height altarpieces that complement the New Spanish Baroque style. It stands about 40.4 meters tall, with the nave reaching around 18 meters. The building also includes a chapel adorned with Talavera tiles.
Legend says that during construction a thunderstorm struck, and a bright figure appeared, guiding workers and leaving an inscription praising God; townspeople later attributed the miracle to Saint Prisca.
Location details aside, the Church of Santa Prisca de Taxco remains a landmark example of 18th-century Mexican religious architecture and a testament to the wealth generated by Taxco’s silver mines.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 13:46 (CET).