Templo de San Francisco de Asís: One of Guadalajara's Oldest Standing Churches

What Is the Templo de San Francisco de Asís?

The Templo de San Francisco de Asís is a Catholic church at the corner of Avenida 16 de Septiembre and Avenida Revolución, in the southern edge of Guadalajara's Centro Histórico. Construction of the first church began around 1580, making it one of the oldest surviving religious structures in the city. The building was substantially rebuilt and expanded starting in 1668, and the layered result of those two building campaigns is visible in the facade today: older stonework meets later Baroque detailing in a way that tells the church's history without a single word.

The temple sits in what locals and guides call 'Los Dos Templos,' a compact zone where the Templo de San Francisco de Asís stands directly alongside the Templo de Nuestra Señora de Aranzazú. Two colonial churches, two distinct facades, one small urban block. The pairing is architecturally unusual and relatively undervisited compared to the cathedral complex about ten minutes north on foot.

The Architecture: What to Look For

The exterior facade of the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is the main reason architectural visitors make the detour. Carved in the regional volcanic stone called cantera rosa, the ornamental work around the main entrance combines Baroque motifs with elements common to 17th-century New Spain religious architecture. Look at the layering of niches and pilasters flanking the doorway: each tier introduces slightly different decorative vocabulary, a record of the different hands and periods involved in construction.

The bell tower is proportionally narrow compared to the width of the nave, which gives the building a vertical emphasis that stands out against the low streetline of Prisciliano Sánchez. From across the street, you get the cleanest read of the full composition. Inside, the space is calmer than the exterior suggests: a single nave with side altars, painted surfaces in muted tones, and natural light filtering through relatively modest windows. It is not a baroque interior in the grand sense, but it has a measured, devotional quality that makes it worth spending time in.

The adjacent Templo de Aranzazú has a more dramatically ornamented interior and is worth entering immediately after. Together, the two buildings make the 'Los Dos Templos' area a worthwhile stop on any architectural walking tour of Guadalajara.

Historical Context: Four Centuries in the Centro Histórico

When the Franciscan order began construction here in 1580, Guadalajara had been a Spanish colonial city for just a few decades. The site reflects the early mission-oriented urban planning of New Spain, in which religious orders claimed key blocks near the city center and built complexes that included the church, a convent, and open atrium space. Much of what surrounded the original complex has since been absorbed by the urban fabric, but the church itself survived.

The 1668 expansion corresponded with a period of increasing investment in Guadalajara's religious infrastructure as the city grew into its role as the administrative capital of the New Galicia region. The Franciscan presence here was part of a broader network of colonial-era churches across the Centro Histórico, several of which still stand within walking distance.

Understanding the Templo de San Francisco de Asís is easier if you already have a sense of the broader historic center layout. The Centro Histórico contains more than a dozen colonial-era churches and civic buildings within a walkable radius, and San Francisco anchors the southern portion of that cluster.

Visiting: Time of Day and Atmosphere

Early mornings between 8:00 and 10:00 are the most atmospheric time to visit. The church is active as a parish, meaning there are local worshippers present rather than just tourists, which gives the space an unperformative quality that the more famous cathedral sometimes lacks. The sound inside is hushed: occasional footsteps on stone, the low hum of traffic filtering in from 16 de Septiembre, sometimes the distant echo of vendors setting up on the street outside.

By midday on weekends, the surrounding streets are considerably busier, and the area around 'Los Dos Templos' fills with families and street food vendors. The churches themselves remain calm inside, but the exterior photos become harder to take cleanly. Late afternoon, as light warms the cantera stone facade to a deeper gold tone, is a good second option for photography.

Guadalajara's rainy season runs roughly June through September, with afternoon downpours common in July and August. The covered doorways of both temples offer decent shelter, but plan outdoor photography for morning hours during that period. The dry season months from November through April are generally the most comfortable for spending time walking the historic center.

Getting There and Getting Around

The temple is in the southern part of the Centro Histórico, roughly a 10-minute walk from the Plaza de Armas and the main cathedral cluster. The SITEUR light rail system serves the area: the closest stops are on Line 2, and the walk from either nearby Line 2 station (such as San Juan de Dios or Plaza Universidad) takes under 15 minutes through the historic streets. Uber and DiDi both operate in central Guadalajara and can drop you directly on Avenida 16 de Septiembre.

The temple is conveniently positioned for combining with other nearby sites. The Mercado San Juan de Dios is a short walk to the east, and the Parque Agua Azul is a few blocks south, making a logical half-day route through this part of the center.

Practical Notes and Who Might Skip This

Admission is free. The parish office operates during specific hours (Monday to Friday 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 18:00; Saturday 09:00 to 13:00), but current reports indicate the church building itself has been closed pending reopening, so access for worship and visits may be restricted. No specific accessibility information was available at time of writing; the entrance involves stone steps typical of colonial-era construction, and the interior floor is uneven in places.

Dress modestly when visiting, as this is an active parish. Covered shoulders are appropriate, and avoiding beachwear or very short clothing is a reasonable baseline for any of Guadalajara's historic churches.

Travelers who have already visited the Hospicio Cabañas, the cathedral, and the Templo Expiatorio and are running short on time may find San Francisco more modest by comparison. It does not have the scale of the cathedral or the dramatic murals of the Hospicio. Its value is in its age, its quiet character, and the double-church pairing with Aranzazú next door. If colonial churches in general do not interest you, this stop is easily skipped.

For those building a thorough itinerary of the city's historic center, this temple fits naturally into a walking tour of Guadalajara's Centro Histórico. It also appears on routes connecting the cathedral area southward toward the Parque Agua Azul corridor.