Convent of San Francisco

You’re now standing in front of the very first convent built in the city of Puebla: the Convent of San Francisco. Construction began in 1535, just shortly after the city itself was founded. At that time, Spanish colonists had been in what was then called New Spain since 1519 and were launching major efforts to convert Indigenous populations to Christianity. The Franciscans were the first religious order to arrive in Puebla, and this is where they established their convent. It took over two centuries for the complex to become what you see today, a stunning example of Mexican colonial architecture. Over the years, it underwent several modifications that gave it its current appearance. Originally, the entire structure was painted yellow, like the section you see on the left side of the façade and the convent behind it. The final additions were the church façade and bell tower, completed in 1767. At that time, the dominant architectural style in Spain was known as Churrigueresque, a lavish and ornate form of Baroque design that left a strong mark on 18th-century buildings. That’s the style chosen for part of this church’s façade, just like you'll see on other landmarks throughout the city. Built with stone, brick, and tile, the façade is decorated with large panels of Talavera Poblana, the signature ceramic tilework that Puebla is famous for. And don’t miss the bell tower, it rises to an impressive 63 meters. Step inside if you can; you’ll find a richly adorned interior and the tomb of San Sebastián de Aparicio, a Franciscan friar who was beatified in 1789.