After the Market

After visiting the San Juan Handicrafts Market last week, I explored the area a bit before heading to the nearest Metrobus stop to go back to the apartment.

Next to the market is the small, pleasant Plaza San Juan.

On the opposite side of the plaza is an elegant church called "el Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe", commonly referred to as the Church of "Buen Tono" (Good Taste).

The church was constructed in 1912 by a Frenchman, Ernesto Pugibet, the owner of the "Buen Tono" tobacco company.  His tobacco factory was located nearby, and he built this church as a place of worship for his employees.  He was originally going to build a theater for his workers on this property, but they asked him to build a church instead.  The doors were closed, so I was unable to see the interior.  By the beginning of the 21st century, the church was in danger of collapsing and had been shut down for a number of years.  A complete restoration project was undertaken, and the church was reopened in time for its centennial in 2012

A bust of Pugibet stands in the plaza.  In the background you can see the tower of the headquarters of TELMEX, the Mexican telephone company.

  

Across the street is a smaller and much older church, "la Basilica de San José y Nuestra Señora del Sagrado Corazón"  (the Basilica of St. Joseph and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart).

This neighborhood was known in colonial times as San Juan Moyotlan, and it was one of the areas where indigenous people were allowed to live.  The original chapel on this site was one of the first churches built for the natives.  A new church was built in 1792.  After suffering heavy damage in an earthquake in 1858 it was extensively remodeled.  It suffered damage again in the 2017 earthquake, but masses are still held here.

The interior is quite pretty.  Since it was Holy Week, many of the images were covered with purple cloth.  That is the custom in Mexico; I'm not sure if that is done in Catholic churches in other countries.

Just a block away I came across a public market that I had never seen before.  As the name, "El Palacio de las Flores", suggests, this market sells flowers and nothing else.

Inside there are stalls with a few dozen florists who do arrangements.  It cannot compare to the amazing Jamaica Market where there are over 1,000 flower vendors.  Still, it was pleasant to walk through here past the colorful and fragrant flowers.