San Francsico el Grande (San Francisco Cathedral), Antigua (must see)

San Francisco Cathedral (San Francisco el Grande), located in Antigua Guatemala, is a historically and culturally significant church, revered particularly for housing the shrine of Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur (Santo Hermano Pedro). Established following the arrival of Franciscan missionaries from Spain in 1530, the Franciscans were originally assigned 120 villages by civil authorities. The first church built by these missionaries was constructed in the Panchoy Valley in 1541, at the current site of the School of Christ (Escuela de Cristo). After suffering damage in 1565, a new sanctuary was erected two blocks away in 1579, parts of which still stand today and represent some of the oldest architecture in Antigua.

Over the centuries, the church and its cloister were expanded and reinforced, notably surviving the 1691 earthquake. However, it sustained severe damage during the earthquakes of 1717, and 1751, particularly in 1773, after which it was only partially reconstructed. Despite these challenges, elements like its façade, characterized by twisted Salomon columns typical of Spanish-American baroque architecture, remain strikingly similar to that of San José Cathedral. Inside, the church houses sixteen vaulted niches with various saints and friars, including notable figures such as the Virgin Mary and San Antonio de Padua.

The church’s bell and clock towers, remnants of its 17th and 19th-century architecture, stand in ruins today. Despite this, the church’s interior remains adorned with rich altarpieces featuring paintings and sculptures by famous artists of the era. Additionally, San Francisco marks the start of Calle los Pasos (Steps Street), which features the Stations of the Cross, a significant religious path traditionally walked solemnly by the faithful.

San Francisco Cathedral thus serves not only as a place of worship but also as a living museum of Guatemalan history and culture, continuing to attract both the devout and the curious.