Traditionally in Mexico, each city has several churches from the colonial era, time of New Spain. City of San Luis Potosí is no different. One of the most important ones here is Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Construction of the splendid Baroque church and Carmelite convent completed in 1764. There are statues of 12 Carmelite saints on the façade. Inside there is a richly gilded Baroque wooden altar.
After Mexico gained independence, the monastery was occupied by the military and turned into barracks. In 1857, when the government limited the power of the church and confiscated most of its property, the Carmelite monastery was abandoned. Its buildings were used for secular purposes, the convent gardens were turned into a city park.
