The Parroquia de Santa Prisca is the symbol of Taxco and was a labor of love for town hero José de la Borda. The local Catholic hierarchy allowed the silver magnate to donate this church to Taxco on the condition that he mortgage his mansion and other assets to guarantee its completion; the project nearly bankrupted him, but the risk was well worth it – the resulting building is one of Mexico’s most beautiful and striking pieces of baroque architecture. Perhaps Santa Prisca’s most striking feature is the contrast between its belfries with their elaborate Churrigueresque facade overlooking the Plaza Borda and the far more simple, constrained and elegant nave, when viewed from side-on. The rose-colored stone used on the facade is extraordinarily beautiful in the sunlight – look out for the oval bas-relief depiction of Christ’s baptism above the doorway. Inside the intricately sculpted, gold-covered altarpieces are equally fine Churrigueresque specimens.