Baroque facade
Twisted columns.
Public domain · Public domain · Francisco Anzola — CC BY 2.0 · ZackClark — Public domain
San Francisco el Grande is a Baroque church in the old city of Antigua Guatemala, with the ruins of a large monastery beside it. A white and yellow facade with twisted columns and statue-filled niches rises above the square, crumbling stone walls with arches open to the sky fill the monastery. Franciscan friars reached Guatemala in 1530 and built a new church here in 1579; parts of it may be the only 16th-century work left in Antigua. The present church was built by Diego de Porres and opened in 1702. It was a religious and cultural centre where philosophy and mathematics were taught at the College of San Buenaventura. It was damaged in the earthquakes of 1717 and 1751, and partly destroyed in 1773. Many come to visit the shrine of Saint Brother Pedro de Betancur. You see the Baroque facade from the square, then walk among the monastery ruins and their open arches. The church is about 800 m in a straight line southeast of central Antigua. It is a working church, so cover your shoulders and knees, and do not wander during Mass.
Twisted columns.
Open arches.
A pilgrims' shrine.
East of central Antigua Guatemala
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Yes, within walking distance.