San Antonio de Padua Convent

The San Antonio de Padua Convent in the 'Yellow City' of Izamal is one of Mexico’s most dramatic colonial-era monuments. Completed in 1561 under the direction of Fray Diego de Landa, the Franciscan monastery was built directly on top of the ruins of the Maya pyramid Pap-Hol-Chac, symbolizing the triumph of the new faith over ancient traditions. Its most awe-inspiring feature is the massive enclosed atrium, which contains 75 arches and is considered the second largest closed courtyard in the world, surpassed only by St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. The entire complex is painted in a vivid, golden yellow that gives the structure a radiant glow, especially during the golden hour. The sanctuary inside houses the revered Virgin of Izamal, the patron saint of Yucatán. The convent gained further international prominence in 1993 when Pope John Paul II visited and addressed a massive crowd in the courtyard, an event honored by a bronze statue on the site.

History & landmarks

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