Capilla Abierta

East of Mexico City


Just below the Ex-Convento Franciscano de la Asunción, beside the 19th-century Plaza de Toros (bullring), is this capilla abierta (open chapel) with three plain but unique Moorish-style arches. One of the entrances to the grounds is locked, but you can get close (though not enter) the capilla from other gates.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby East of Mexico City attractions

1. Museo Regional de Tlaxcala

0.04 MILES

The Museo Regional de Tlaxcala has a large collection of religious paintings and a few pre-Hispanic sculptures and artifacts.

2. Ex-Convento Franciscano de la Asunción

0.04 MILES

Built between 1537 and 1540, this was one of Mexico’s earliest monasteries and its church – the city’s cathedral – has a beautiful Moorish-style wooden…

3. Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala

0.11 MILES

A branch of the museum that holds interesting temporary exhibits and a good permanent collection of contemporary Mexican art.

4. Museo de la Memoria Tlaxcala

0.13 MILES

This modern history museum looks at folklore through a multimedia lens and has well-presented exhibits on indigenous government, agriculture and…

5. Zócalo

0.21 MILES

It’s easy to pass an afternoon reading or just people-watching in Tlaxcala’s shady, spacious zócalo. The 16th-century Palacio Municipal, a former grain…

6. Museo de Arte de Tlaxcala

0.24 MILES

This fantastic small contemporary-art museum houses an excellent cache of early Frida Kahlo paintings that were returned to the museum after several years…

7. Palacio de Gobierno

0.25 MILES

Inside the Palacio de Gobierno there are color-rich murals of Tlaxcala's history by Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin. His style is vividly realistic and…

8. Palacio de Justicia

0.26 MILES

The 16th-century building on the plaza's northwest side is the Palacio de Justicia, the former Capilla Real de Indios, built for the use of indigenous…