Pátzcuaro was one of the first places where the Franciscans established themselves inside the lacustrine zone, due to its importance as an Hispanic population center. We do not know the exact date of the founding of the convent, but the Franciscan’s own historians affirm that this was the fifth convent of the province of Michoacán, established by brother Martin de la Coruña, one of the first twelve Franciscans to arrive in New Spain. However, is known that it was already here when Vasco de Quiroga moved the Episcopal see of Tzintzuntzan to Pátzcuaro, and therefore assumed to be the oldest convent and temple in the city.