CONVENTO DE SAN BERNARDINO DE SIENA
Majestic stone convent, the second largest convent in the Yucatan after San Antonio de Padua in Izamal
The construction of this majestic stone convent and its church began in 1552 on the instructions of the Franciscan order; it is the second largest convent in Yucatán after that of San Antonio de Padua in Izamal. The convent itself houses a capilla de indios, which, as its name indicates, was dedicated to the evangelization of the natives. Its main church contains small Baroque marvels, such as the central altarpiece or niches decorated with sculptures; vegetal motifs are omnipresent. The cloister is built on two levels and one of its corridors houses an old noria, which was used to draw water from a cenote (another larger one is in the northern part of the convent); remains of frescoes that covered all the walls at that time are still visible. It was also here that the botanical work of Fray Bernardino de Valladolid began, the Catálogo botánico, which deals with the medical, industrial and domestic uses of the plants of the area. And for the photo pose, go to the front of the convent, in front of the 10 coloured letters that make up the name of the city.
Sound and Light: from Tuesday to Sunday (9pm in summer, 8pm in winter), the facade of the convent is illuminated with a beautiful videomapping, sound and light show, which allows you to discover the history of the city. Not to be missed. Free of charge.
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