Convent and temple of San Francisco

Pátzcuaro was one of the first places where the Franciscans settled within the lake area, due to its importance as a Hispanic population center.

The exact date of the foundation of the convent is not known, although the Franciscan chroniclers themselves affirm that this was the fifth convent in the province of Michoacán, established by Friar Martín de la Coruña, one of the first twelve Franciscans who arrived in New Spain. However, it is known that it was already here when Don Vasco de Quiroga moved the episcopal see from Tzintzuntzan to Pátzcuaro, so it is assumed that it is the oldest in the city.

En su interior conserva un Cristo en pasta de caña de maíz que data del siglo XVI. En 1867 el edificio sufrió un incendio y fue hasta 1888 cuando se comenzó su restauración. Aun luce su cruz atrial.