The divergent orientations of the buildings of the Franciscan complex of San Gabriel Cholula, Puebla, Mexico

The Royal Chapel of the Franciscan complex in San Gabriel Cholula, Mexico, exhibits a unique alignment with the sacred orientation of Teotihuacan, diverging from the city's solstitial layout. This discovery challenges prior assumptions about the architectural consistency of Cholula and suggests a deliberate connection to Teotihuacan's cosmological framework. The study analyzed the orientations of the chapel and convent temple, revealing that while the chapel aligns with Teotihuacan's orientation, the convent temple's alignment remains enigmatic but may correspond to equinox definitions or the patron saint's feast day. This research sheds light on the complex interplay between pre-Hispanic and colonial architectural traditions in New Spain.

Gómez-Ruiz, A., & Molero Sañudo, A. P. (2024). The divergent orientations of the buildings of the Franciscan complex of San Gabriel Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. Journal of Astronomy in Culture, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.5070/ac3.24977