Ex Convento de San Nicolás de Bari Oxtotipac

In the Pueblo Mágico of Otumba, in the Estado de Mexico, there is a historic gem that surprises visitors with its simplicity and charm: the Ex-Convent of San Nicolás de Bari Oxtotipac, considered the smallest ex-convent in Mexico.

Built in the 16th century on the foundations of an ancient pre-Hispanic pyramid, this site is a jewel that blends Indigenous roots with colonial heritage. Its architecture is striking for the unusually small dimensions of its staircases, doors, and ceilings, which require visitors to stoop down as they enter—creating a unique experience that feels like stepping back in time.

Inside, you’ll find a museum room that preserves religious artifacts and images of San Nicolás de Bari, the patron saint of the community. At the center of the cloister, a monolithic fountain carved with flowers and the double Franciscan cord—a symbolic representation of the order—adds to the site’s historic beauty.

Visiting Oxtotipac is a reminder that grand stories can also be told in small spaces, where history lives on in the most intimate details of architecture.