Basílica Menor de San Francisco de Asís (Minor Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi), Havana

The Minor Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, located in the Old Havana district, is a Franciscan convent with a rich history. Construction commenced in 1548 and concluded in 1591, with inauguration occurring in 1575. However, it faced damages from storms in 1680 and 1692, and a hurricane toppled its tower in 1694. Reconstruction efforts began in 1716, continuing over two centuries with structural reforms between 1731 and 1738.

During English rule in Havana, the basilica served as a place of worship before being repurposed for concerts. Adjacent to it stands a 138-foot bell tower, originally graced by a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, though destroyed in a cyclone in 1846. Today, a statue of Fray Junípero Serra with a Juaneño Indian boy occupies the space.

Architecturally, the basilica blends elements of Corinthian and Doric styles, with traces of early Baroque. Its façade on Trades Street (Calle Oficios) features three stone statues representing the Immaculate Conception, Francis of Assisi, and Saint Dominic. Recognized as a Minor Basilica in 1739, it stands beside the Plaza de San Francisco de Asís, inaugurated in 1628. Alongside Old Havana, it holds UNESCO World Heritage status since 1982.

The monastery's cloister, dating back to 1739, now houses a museum of sacred art. Additionally, a bronze life-size statue by Jose Villa Soberon, depicting José María López Lledín, known as El Caballero de Paris (1899–1985), stands on the basilica's sidewalk, with his burial inside the edifice.