San Francisco el Grande & Iglesia del Hermano Pedro de Antigua, Antigua, Guatemala — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Church of San Francisco in Antigua Guatemala holds the tomb of one of Central America's most remarkable figures: Hermano Pedro de San José Betancur, who was canonized as a saint in 2002, the first from this part of the world. Hermano Pedro arrived in Guatemala from the Canary Islands in 1651. Too poor to complete his studies for the priesthood, he became a Franciscan tertiary and devoted his life to caring for the sick, the homeless, and the abandoned. He founded the Order of the Bethlemites and established what is considered the first hospital in the Americas dedicated to serving the poor. He died in 1667, and his tomb inside the church has been a pilgrimage site ever since. The Church of San Francisco itself is one of the most important religious buildings in Antigua. Like much of the city, it suffered severe damage in the devastating earthquake of 1773, which led to the abandonment of Antigua as Guatemala's capital. Parts of the church complex still lie in ruins, creating a striking contrast between the restored nave (still active as a parish church) and the crumbling remnants of what was once a grand Franciscan monastery. Antigua Guatemala is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the combination of colonial architecture, volcanic landscapes, and living history makes it one of Central America's most atmospheric cities. If you're exploring Antigua on a Questo quest, the Church of San Francisco and the story of Hermano Pedro bring together faith, history, and the resilience of a city that refused to disappear after disaster.