San Francisco Church and Saint Brother Pedro

The church of San Francisco el Grande is one of Antigua's best-loved churches and an important pilgrimage site. It holds the tomb of Saint Brother Pedro de San José de Betancur, a friar born in Tenerife who in the 17th century devoted his life to the city's poor and sick. He was canonized in 2002 and is considered Central America's first saint.

The church is still in use, and there are always worshippers coming to ask for favors or give thanks for miracles: the walls around the tomb are covered with plaques and votive offerings.

The convent ruins

Next to the church you can walk through the ruins of the old Franciscan convent, with giant walls and arches that give an idea of what was once one of the largest religious complexes in the city. There is also a small museum dedicated to Brother Pedro.