The Templo de San Agustín is one of Morelia's most striking churches, its facade covered in densely carved baroque decoration that overwhelms the eye in the best possible way. Built by the Augustinian order in the 17th century, it sits on a small plaza a few blocks north of the main cathedral and feels less visited and more atmospheric for it. The carved stone vines, angels, and figures crowd every surface in a style that represents the high point of Mexican baroque exuberance.
The adjacent former convent, now a public library, has been converted while preserving the main cloister and its carved stone details. The library itself is functional and plain — the point is the building, not the reading rooms. The plaza in front of San Agustín has a small garden and is a quiet spot in the middle of the day when tourists are mostly concentrated further south near the cathedral.