Regina Coeli Convent Church is a Roman Catholic parish church and former convent built in the historic center of Mexico City, on the corner of Regina and Bolivar Streets. The church building is the only functioning portion of a former 16th century convent. The church is Churrigueresque in style from the 18th century and was part of the convent of Regina Coeli Conceptionist nuns. The former convent was closed during the Reform War and is generally not open to the public. The church is still open to worship and visitors and contains several of its original gilded Churrigueresque altarpieces from the 18th century. One in particular, the altar dedicated to the Virgin of the Fountain is an early, but developed example of the Churrigueresque style. Despite the church’s status as a national monument, it has had serious conservation problems due to deterioration since the mid 20th century. History The land was ceded to the Conceptionists in 1573 to establish a convent, with official Vatican permission obtained from Pope Gregory XIII in 1578. It was the second convent of this order established in New Spain. The name of Regina Coeli is derived from a prayer directed to the Virgin Mary during Easter, referring to Mary’s participation in the Resurrection of Jesus . The church portion of the complex dates from 1655. It was repaired several times then consecrated once again in 1731. Nuns from this institution founded other Concepcionista convents in Oaxaca, San Miguel Allende, and others in Mexico City. The convent operated until 1863, when the Reform Laws closed it down, with the convent building becoming became state property and the church becoming a parish. The government sold it in 1863 to Florencio Velasco del Castillo for 8,000 pesos. However, this transaction was canceled 43 years later by the judiciary. In 1908, the Secretary of the Government (Secretaria de Gobernación) installed a public clock in the building. By 1929, parts of the convent area were being used to raise domestic fowl and pigs with a large quantity of debris in one of the courtyards. It was used as a barracks shortly thereafter and in 1931, was declared an “Artistic Monument.” In 1982, the complex was declared a Historical Monument of the Nation. Starting in the mid 20th century, the deterioration of the church building has been a serious problem. In 1945, a water leak ruined a painting of Saint Christopher.