Iglesia de San Francisco, Antigua Guatemala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of Saint Francis |
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Iglesia y convento de San Francisco El Grande (Spanish)
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Church facade
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| General information | |
| Status | Active Church |
| Architectural style | Spanish seismic baroque |
| Location | Antigua Guatemala,  Guatemala |
| Coordinates | 14°33′14.04″N 90°43′45.8394″W / 14.5539000°N 90.729399833°W |
| Completed | 1702 |
| Inaugurated | 1702 |
| Destroyed |
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| Owner | Franciscans |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Diego de Porres |
San Francisco el Grande is a famous church in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. It is one of the most visited churches by local people. Many come to see the shrine of Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur, also known as Santo Hermano Pedro.
Contents
History of the Church
Franciscan missionaries came to Guatemala from Spain in 1530. They were given 120 villages by the local government. In 1541, they were the first to move to the Panchoy Valley. There, they built a church where the School of Christ is today.
This first chapel was badly damaged in 1565. Over the next ten years, people donated money to build a new church. This new church was finished in 1579. You can still see parts of this original building today. They are some of the oldest parts of Antigua from the 1500s.
A Center for Learning and Art
San Francisco el Grande became a very important religious and cultural center. It was important for the entire region. At San Buenaventura College, located in the monastery ruins, students learned many subjects. These included theology, law, philosophy, physics, and mathematics.
The college also supported famous painters of that time. These artists included Cristóbal de Villalpando and Thomas de Merlo.
Earthquakes and Rebuilding
The chapel and monastery were made bigger in the 1600s. In 1684, the building was made stronger. This helped it survive an earthquake in 1691. The main church was built by Diego de Porres and opened in 1702.
However, the church was badly damaged by earthquakes.
- The 1717 earthquake caused severe damage.
- The 1751 earthquake also caused a lot of harm.
- The 1773 Guatemala earthquake partly destroyed the site.
Parts of the church have been rebuilt since then. But some areas still remain in ruins. The fountain from the main hallway was moved in 1944. The old statue of the Virgin Mary behind the main altar fell during the 1976 Guatemala earthquake.
Church Architecture
The front of the church has twisted columns. These are called Salomonic columns. This style is common in Spanish-American baroque architecture. It looks similar to the San José Cathedral.
The facade has sixteen arched spaces. Most of these spaces hold a statue of a saint or a friar. You can see statues of the Virgin Mary, San Diego de Alcalá, and San Antonio de Padua. At the entrance to the monastery, there are murals. These paintings show Franciscan friars with a skeleton.
The church's bell and clock towers are from the 1600s and 1800s. They are still in ruins today. Inside the church, the altars were beautifully decorated. They had paintings and sculptures by famous artists of the time.
The church marks the start of the Calle los Pasos, or "Steps Street." This street has the Stations of the Cross. People used to walk along it in a special procession.
Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur
Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur was a missionary from Spain. He worked in Guatemala. He was made a saint in 2002. His tomb is inside the church. Thousands of people visit his tomb every year. They come to ask for help and miracles.
San Francisco el Grande in Movies
In 1935, the ruins of San Francisco were used in a movie. The church was not rebuilt until 1967. The movie was called The New Adventures of Tarzan. Scenes were filmed here where Tarzan and his friends are captured. They are almost sacrificed by people who worship the Green Goddess.
The entire movie was filmed in Guatemala. Other filming locations included Chichicastenango, Livingston, and Tikal.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Francisco (La Antigua Guatemala) para niños
