Church of San Francisco

The church of San Francisco, in Mexico City

The church of San Francisco is the last vestige of one of the greatest convents of New Spain, founded in the sixteenth century in the heart of Mexico City. The Mexico City audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this sanctuary laden with history, that hosted the twelve first monks of the evangelisation and was the scene of major ceremonies, from the funeral mass of Hernán Cortés to the celebration of independence.

The vestige of the great Franciscan convent

The church of San Francisco comes straight from the eighteenth century, but it is the heir of a much older ensemble: it was, at the time, one of the greatest convents of New Spain, this vast territory colonised by the Spaniards from the sixteenth century. You see today only a few vestiges, but you must imagine that formerly the convent was much more extensive, composed of a church and a monastery that hosted the twelve first monks come to evangelise the population after the Spanish conquest. It is fitting to evoke this place with respect, for it was a high place of the religious life of the city. Rebuilt several times because of the unstable ground of Mexico City, a former lake city, the church was the object of debates as to its style, baroque for some, rococo for others. Whatever the case, its richly sculpted façade remains a masterpiece of colonial art. It is in this church that the inhabitants came to celebrate, in fervour, the end of the war of independence that lasted from 1810 to 1821, and it is also here that took place, more than two centuries earlier, the funeral mass of Hernán Cortés. A place of faith and memory, to be discovered in contemplation, it testifies to the great hours of Mexican history. A colonial church and a historic sanctuary, the church of San Francisco is discovered with respect.

What to see

Here you discover, with respect, the last vestige of one of the greatest convents of New Spain, founded in the sixteenth century, that hosted the twelve first monks of the evangelisation; rebuilt in the eighteenth century, its richly sculpted façade, baroque or rococo, is a colonial masterpiece, and the church was the scene of the celebration of independence and of the funeral mass of Hernán Cortés. The church of San Francisco is a historic sanctuary of Mexico City. It is a stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The church of San Francisco lies on the calle Francisco I. Madero, in the heart of the historic centre of Mexico City, reachable on foot or by metro. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect; entry and hours follow the conditions of the parish, which vary and may be restricted during services. It is best to enquire before coming.

Why is the church of San Francisco important in Mexico City?

Because it is the last vestige of one of the greatest convents of New Spain, founded in the sixteenth century, that hosted the twelve first monks of the evangelisation; rebuilt in the eighteenth century, with its richly sculpted façade, it was the scene of the celebration of the end of the war of independence, in 1821, and of the funeral mass of Hernán Cortés two centuries earlier.

Where is the church of San Francisco in Mexico City?

On the calle Francisco I. Madero, in the heart of the historic centre of Mexico City, in Mexico.