The Temple of Santa Maria Tonantzintla. Located in the heart of the town of the same name and only 15 minutes from the city of Puebla is one of the most beautiful temples in Mexico: Tonanzintla temple, the chest which contains one of the richest jewels of Mexican baroque. In the Church of Tonantzintla live two religious interpretations, the indigenous and Christian brought by the Spanish. Santa Maria Tonantzintla is a small municipality of San Andrés Cholula, 10 minutes from the capital of the state of Puebla, Mexico. The main attraction is the church considered the ultimate expression of indigenous baroque. Tonantzin in Mexican culture was a goddess identified with the Earth. Tonantzintla word comes from Nahuatl and means place of our dear mother. With the arrival of the Spanish was added to the name of Santa Maria in honor of the Virgin Mary. The great value of this church is the only temple where the Franciscans, who evangelized the old Mexico, allowed the Indians realize their artistic and religious. The Indians wanted Tonantzintla represented at the dome of the chapel the sky of Tlaloc, the god of rain. And every face you see, is not an angel, but an Indian who was killed by lightning or drowned and reincarnated in the sky. One could argue that there is not a free inch inside the church. Its lush decor with Indian motifs, flowers, fruits and plants presents a mix of pre-Hispanic world and the Christian world. The dome, is originally from 1600. Everything else was added by the local people through the years: four cedar wood altarpieces gold plated, images of Saint Antonio de Padua, Saint Francisco de Asis, paintings of Mexican fruits. Tonantzintla church is like a person, when viewed from the outside cannot imagine what’s inside. One of the traditions of the people is that girls whose orders the saints have been granted, cut their hair and wear it as an offering in thanks. In the courtyard you can see images of the saints with natural hair wigs. To complete the tour of the area can visit the churches of San Francisco Tlaxcalancingo and Acatepec, nahuatl word which means Hill of the Reeds. In this town is also the National Astrophysical Observatory Tonantzintla founded in 1942 by Luis Enrique Erro, amateur astronomer, politician and educator. With a qualified team, Erro built and installed a Schmidt type telescope one of the best instruments of the time, it would launch a Mexican astronomy to the world stage. Santa Maria Tonantzintla is the third most visited temple of Puebla and the only one in which indigenous religious beliefs do not succumbed to Spanish rule. Tonanzintla church contains a group of heritage sites worthy of being played, known and appreciated by visitors. This assertion is based on the fact that one of the few churches in Mexico where the Mexican Baroque style is reflected in the art, grace and innocence of those Indians who built and decorated. Tonanzintla church is the axis along which the organized community life, and who with a grand spirit of devotion and faith, maintain not only the beautiful XVI century architectural work but also kept alive the traditions that have been inherited. Visits: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 16:00 http://www.andares.mx/deandares/santa-maria-tonantzintla.html