Biblioteca Francisco de Burgoa

Beautiful library, treasure of centuries-old texts. Temporary exhibitions are made, old books and conferences are restored. It smells very old book

There is a permanent exhibition on the onchocercosis quite detailed, in the place they had their own press for binding and the views towards the courtyards make you think how nice it should have been to study there, which is also quite cool. You can not interact with the books in the first section, which are also in Latin. It is quite wide and although there are many people, it is still possible to walk comfortably and the details of the shelves are not lost.

Burgoa, Francisco de. Antequera, Valley of Oaxaca (Mexico), c. 1600 - Zaachila (Mexico), 1681. Dominican (OP), missionary and chronicler. He was the son of a wealthy family descended from the first conquerors. He learned the first letters with a particular teacher. At eighteen he entered as a novice in the convent of Santo Domingo de Oaxaca. He studied Philosophy and Theology there. In 1625 he was ordained a priest. Sometime later he was appointed a teacher in theology, who taught for years. In 1649 he was elected provincial of the erected Dominican province of San Hipólito de Oaxaca. He attends the General Chapter of the Order celebrated in Rome in 1656. He returns to Mexico with the title of vicar general of the Dominicans, as a member of the Inquisition and as curator and inspector of bookstores in Mexico. In 1662 he returns to be elected provincial. During his tenure the stucco decoration of the convent of Santo Domingo de Oaxaca is carried out. Having spent so much time at the head of the province allowed him, through the many trips he had to make, to know thoroughly all his religious, in addition to the geography and characteristics of the territory that covered his apostolate. Both things gave him abundant subject for his writings. In his Palestra History of virtues and apostolic copies (1670) he describes the life and apostolic works carried out by the members of his recent Dominican province. The Dominican Order appeared in Mexico in 1526, shortly after the conquest of Hernán Cortés. Its members were initially Spaniards and some other European, established mainly in the cities. At the end of the sixteenth century its members were mostly Creoles and present already in the rural world. His name was the province of Santiago de la Nueva España. Its geographical extension was enormous. This is the official reason given by the chroniclers, among them Francisco de Burgoa, to justify the segregationist movement that began around 1570 in the Mixtec-Zapotec region integrated into the Diocese of Oaxaca. They also adduced the large number of houses and convents and the distance from the provincial, usually in Mexico City, which greatly delayed the solution of the urgent problems that were incumbent on his authority. To these reasons we must add the great missionary and economic expansion. It is the area of ​​greatest influence of the Dominicans. Throughout the sixteenth century it was the only Order established in that territory. It was the area where there were more houses and convents of the Order, very spread over the difficult terrain. To all this we must add the great linguistic diversity of the region, since up to ten languages ​​were spoken. In addition, the religious of the area believed themselves relegated when it came to accessing government posts. The struggle began between the religious of Mexico and those of the Oaxaca region. Both parties sent emissaries to Spain and the General of the Order to defend their positions. The General Chapter of the Order, held in Venice in 1592, admitted the division. The new province of San Hipólito de Oaxaca was officially born. Later it was ratified by the Council of the Indies. Burgoa offers data on the new province. The Provincial Chapters established rigorous warnings prohibiting the superiors from assigning to the convents and houses of doctrine the religious who had not finished the studies of Art and Theology and entered the mature age. The convent of Cuilapán is the house of studies of the new province since 1604, with special dedication to the teaching of the Mixtec language. The one from Oaxaca specialized in the Zapotec language. According to Francisco de Burgoa, in 1611 the alternance in the provincialato was established by law in the province, probably to avoid problems among the religious. The position was performed once by a Spaniard and the next a Creole. Those born in the Indies were considered Creoles and those who had been raised and educated there since they were very young. Burgoa was Creole. This law was ratified at the General Chapter of Bologna in 1615. It was never fulfilled for various reasons. Source: rah

A truly fascinating place, nestled inside another beautiful enclosure, such as the Ex Convento de Santo Domingo, now the Museum of Cultures of Oaxaca. It contains an important collection of books, surrounded by a spectacular enclosure, the truth the place invites to read, a must visit of the Museum.

Unmissable place if you love books, there are exhibits of incunable books, varied texts of religion literature, science, history, etc. In addition the beauty of the enclosure is unique. Did you know that you can request texts for reading in a space of this library.