Antigua Guatemala

Now days, San Francisco El Grande is one of the most visited churches. Is also one of the most beautiful chapels because of its baroque style and colonial art.
In 1530, the Franciscans arrived to the General Captaincy of Guatemala and being one of the main orders that came to this region, the civilian authorities provided them with 120 small villages. They built a sanctuary in the small village of Santa Ana, from which they made the water introduction to supply the city. In 1541, they were the first ones to be transferred to the Panchoy Valley, into a new church where currently is located the building of the Escuela de Cristo. In 1565, this chapel was seriously damaged, so it took about ten years to gather the enough amount of funds to build a new sanctuary, two blocks away from the previous one, during 1579. Its art pieces were the only ones made during the XVI century, found in the city, and can be seen in its sanctuary.
San Francisco El Grande became an interesting site for religious people and is a cultural center of the region. In the San Buenaventura School, located where today are the ruins of the monastery, classes of theology, laws, philosophy, physics, and mathematics where given. The most famous image makers and painters such as: Tomás de Merlo, Alonzo de la Paz, and Cristobal de Villalpando attended to this school.
The building of its chapel and cloister was expanded though the whole XVII century. The wooden terrace of the church, built in 1674, was so beautifully carved that it is said there is no other like it in Guatemala. The cloister had a perfect hermitage, library, music and arts room, and a printing space. In 1684, this imposing three-story building was reinforced to make it last during the earthquake of 1691. It was decorated with gorgeous paintings, statues and altarpieces.
The 1717 earthquake damaged seriously the building again. The arches and vaults of the chapel were destroyed, the bell tower was also partially demolished, and the infirmary was damaged. Unfortunately, while it was being restored some reinforcements were added to the walls, but in the next earthquake, in 1751, they caused a lot of damages.
There can be seen two sets of stairs partially covered with stucco designs with baroque style.
Hermano Pedro asked to be buried in the Third Order hermitage and that's why, some day his remains are going to be taken to that place.
The restoration of San Francisco's chapel started in 1960, and this restoration caused a lot of trouble between art analysts and restoration people. But above all this, the main entrance was partially restored in 1960. Its bell and clock towers from the XVII and XIX centuries remain in ruins. In its façade, there can be seen the images of San Francisco (founder of the Franciscans order in 1209), Santo Hermano Pedro de Betancur, and two Franciscans.
Between its Solomon columns and the upper part of the entrance you can find the images of: the Virgin, San Diego de Alcalá, San Antoio de Padua, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Clara, Santiago, and Santa Isabel de Hungría. The colonial image of the Virgin located behind the main altarpiece fell down during the 1976 earthquake. Its chapel is unique and it is part of the Hermano Pedro´s museum (See Museums).
At the entrance of the monastery there are some murals, in which there can be seen the images of some Franciscans friars with a skeleton. The fountain of the main corridor was taken to La Merced's atrium in 1944. Today, only very little remains of what this original monument was. Also from this monument you can have a very nice view of the three volcanoes that surround the city (Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango).