San Francisco Church, Guatemala City

San Francisco Church, or Iglesia San Francisco, is a catholic church completed in 1829. The church is sometimes referred to as the Temple of San Francisco, or Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The church blends Neoclassical and Baroque architectural styles. It was designed to resemble the Church of San Francisco El Grande in Antigua Guatemala. The architect was Don Santiago Marqui.

Though the exterior is undoubtedly stunning, the primary feature of the church is the inside. The main wooden altar is nearly 300 feet high and 40 feet wide. The church is also known for its intricate wood carvings of Crucified Jesus and The Passion.

Some furnishings donated by King Carlos V of Spain include a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception, which rests upon the altar.

San Francisco Church fell into ruins after the earthquake of 1917. It was rebuilt in the 1920s before being damaged again in the earthquake of 1976. Engineer Oscar Martinez Diguero led reconstruction efforts. However, parts of the church still show signs of damage.

There is no admission fee to visit this church. It is open daily for tours from 6 AM to 5 PM. Visitors are also welcome to attend mass held daily. The church is managed by the Franciscans, but it belongs to the Archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Guatemala City. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: San Francisco Church
Sight Location: Guatemala City, Guatemala (See walking tours in Guatemala City)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Guatemala City Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Create Your Own Walk in Guatemala City

Creating your own self-guided walk in Guatemala City is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Guatemala City Culture Venues

Among other things that a tourist may find interesting in Guatemala City are a number of cultural venues, such as museums, that provide an opportunity to discover some important and sometimes curious historical artifacts about the capital of Guatemala.

One such venue is the Guatemala City Railway Museum, located within the former railway station, offering thrilling exhibitions and a wealth of... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

Guatemala City Introduction Walking Tour

Guatemala City is the capital city of Guatemala and the largest city in Central America. The history of the city dates to 1500 BC when the land was part of the Mayan civilization. The city was known as Kaminaljuyu, which collapsed for unknown causes around 300 AD.

Guatemala City as it stands today was established in 1776 following the Spanish conquest as the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala.... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

Religious Buildings Walk

Guatemala City's religious scene, while also embracing other faiths, is centered predominantly around Catholicism. The local churches are quite impressive in terms of architecture and are an integral part of the local culture and everyday life. Nestled amid the city's bustling streets and modern architecture, the multiple sacred sites reflect the deep spiritual roots of the Guatemalan... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

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