Templo y Ex-Convento de San Francisco ("Church and Ex-monastery of St Francis")
Paseo de San Francisco ("St Francis Walk")
Every great city has a great beginning.
Boulevard Héroes del 5 de Mayo between 4 and 14 Oriente.

The Franciscans being the main promoters of the foundation of the city of Puebla, it's only natural that one of the first buildings of the city belonged to this religious order. The order began construction of its monastery around 1535 and of its church around 15 years later. Once finished they served as hospitals for the pious of the bishopric of Tlaxcala. The fact that they built their monastery in an area reserved for natives makes one wonder about the goal the Franciscans had in establishing this institution.

We mustn't forget that what is today Boulevard 5 de Mayo was once a great river that was a vital supply of water for the monks. The original facade was very understated in accordance with the ideals of the order. The present facade was built between 1743 and 1767, combining stone, brick and talavera mosaics. The original tower collapsed from several earthquakes so only the base remains. The tower you see today was built in 1767. The interior, originally with baroque altars, was remodeled in the 19th century, with several neoclassical altars being placed along the sole nave of the church, which were later removed. One of the attractions of the church of San Francisco is the display of the body of the Blessed Sebastián de Aparicio,a Franciscan monk whose corpse remains undecomposed. In the same chapel you can see the famous Conquistadora ("Conqueror"), an image of the Virgin Mary that according to legend was brought from Spain by Hernán Cortés. The adjacent monastery has lost its great beauty, as one part of it became a military hospital and the other a barracks. Today it houses a school, while one of the most imposing chapels of the complex is now the Public Library.

On the other side of this space we find what's known as the "Gastronomy Corridor" and the old washing facilities of Almoloya, a much-frequented site that took advantage of the river water and was used by local families to do their laundry.

The "Paseo de San Francisco" project has revitalized the area originally occupied by the monastery and restored the 16th century water works that were used by it to divert the course of the river to suit the monks' needs. Other features recovered were the monastery's original foundations and the glass-making ovens of some 17th century workshops as well as part of the structure of some factories located there in the 19th century. Among the renovations made was a beautiful garden among the archeological remains on the site, surrounded by a Convention Center, a Mall with all conveniences and a Gallery of Contemporary Art.The coexistence side-by-side of the old with the modern makes this site an emblem of the city of Puebla, a must-see for anyone who wants to feel the pleasure that comes from visiting a centuries-old city.

Don't miss seeing the large paintings in the Church of San Francisco and strolling through the gardens and ruins of this wonderful cultural site!

Also don't miss eating in the "Gastronomy Corridor" and tasting real traditional Puebla chalupas!