As you enter, spot the differences in architecture used throughout the complex. An earthquake destroyed the original 16th-century Franciscan monastery, and the Church of San Francisco was built in its place, with additions made throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Learn more about the church and Antigua’s signature baroque style on a guided walking tour, and visit top attractions such as Museo to del Jade and a working coffee plantation. Some tours start with a morning hike up Cero de la Cruz, and end with a soak at the hot springs heated by Pacaya, the most active volcano in Guatemala.
*The church is an ideal spot for history and architecture buffs.
The Church of San Francisco is located on 7a Calle Poniente, five blocks southwest from Plaza Mayor, the main plaza in Antigua. It’s within easy walking distance from any part of the city. At the north end of the church find the Vera Cruz Chapel to visit Hermano Pedro’s tomb.
The church is open daily with masses held in the mornings and at midday. Visit on a Sunday, when the church offers several masses, each one overflowing with the devout. If you’re traveling during Semana Santa (Lenten and Holy Week), this is the place to be, with its many moving festivities and processions.
On your way to the tomb, you’ll pass a large esquisúchil tree that Brother Peter planted in 1657, and a bronze sculpture of the monk. Behind the tomb is a stained-glass window depicting his arrival in Heaven. Notice the colored candles representing prayer requests: red for love, blue for work, pink for health, and so on. Some are shaped like ears or eyes signifying an afflicted body part.