PENÍNSULA DE YUCATÁN
Holy Journeys of the Maya Land
Mexico City’s Iconic Landmarks:
Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Izamal
Located in Izamal, Yucatán, is a revered Catholic pilgrimage site. Established in the 16th century atop a former Mayan pyramid, the sanctuary houses a venerated statue of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, known for miraculous healings. The current image, a replacement after the original was lost in an 1829 fire, continues to inspire devotion. Pope John Paul II visited the sanctuary in 1993, highlighting its spiritual significance.
Iglesia de San Juan Bautista
Located in Motul, Yucatán, this is a prominent 16th-century Franciscan church and former monastery. Construction began in 1567 under Fray Hernando de Guevara and concluded in 1651. Built using stones from nearby Mayan ruins, it features a neoclassical façade with baroque towers. Inside, a restored 16th-century wooden pulpit showcases carvings of saints like St. Francis and St. Thomas Aquinas. The church remains a vital spiritual and cultural landmark in Motul.
Iglesia de la Virgen de la Asunción
The Iglesia de la Virgen de la Asunción in Muna, Yucatán, is a significant colonial-era church built atop a former Franciscan convent. Construction began on May 11, 1691, as indicated by an inscription inside the temple. The church was secularized in 1775, and in 1910, it underwent renovations; however, it suffered damage in 1915, leading to the partial loss of its main altarpiece. Today, the church remains a vital spiritual and cultural landmark in Muna, reflecting the region’s rich religious heritage.
Ex Convento de San Miguel Arcángel
The Ex Convento de San Miguel Arcángel in Maní, Yucatán, is a remarkable 16th-century Franciscan complex and a key site on the Yucatán Convent Route. Built between 1549 and 1557 by indigenous labor under the direction of Fray Juan de Mérida, it features a vast atrium, an open-air chapel, and a church adorned with colonial-era altarpieces. The main altarpiece, dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, showcases intricate carvings and sculptures of saints. Despite periods of neglect, the convent remains a symbol of spiritual and cultural heritage in the region.
Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís
The Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís in Oxkutzcab, Yucatán, is a significant 16th-century Franciscan church founded on May 5, 1581, by Fray Cristóbal de Rivera. Completed between 1693 and 1699, it features a Tuscan-style façade adorned with carved stone symbols, including a cross, lions, the sun, and the moon. Inside, the church boasts three naves separated by stone columns and a baroque altarpiece with Solomonic columns, depicting the Virgin Mary, Christ, and various saints. Situated in the town’s main square, it remains a vital spiritual and cultural landmark.
Ex Convento de Santo Domingo
The Ex Convento de Santo Domingo in Uayma, Yucatán, is a remarkable 17th-century Franciscan church built in 1646 using stones from nearby Mayan ruins, including Chichén Itzá. Destroyed during the Caste War in the 19th century, it lay in ruins until its restoration in 2005. The church’s façade and interior are adorned with vibrant red and blue rosettes, stars, and double-headed eagles, blending indigenous and colonial motifs. Today, it stands as a testament to the region’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
Catedral de San Ildefonso
The Catedral de San Ildefonso in Mérida, Yucatán, stands as the oldest cathedral on the American mainland. Constructed between 1562 and 1598 atop the ancient Maya city of T’ho, it was built using stones from nearby Mayan pyramids. The cathedral showcases Renaissance architectural styles and features a neoclassical façade with statues of Saints Peter and Paul. Inside, the austere interior houses the “Cristo de la Unidad,” a large crucifix carved from a single piece of wood. Despite suffering damage during the 1915 revolution, the cathedral remains a vital spiritual and cultural landmark in Mérida.
Iglesia de San Servacio
The Iglesia de San Servacio is a historic Catholic church located in Valladolid, Yucatán. Originally built in 1545, it was reconstructed in 1706 after a dramatic event led to its desecration. The church stands on the city’s main square and features a unique baroque façade with twin bell towers. Its rich history and striking architecture make it a popular landmark and cultural attraction. Visitors are drawn to its blend of colonial heritage and spiritual significance in the heart of Valladolid.
Santuario de María Desatadora de Nudos
Located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, this is a serene spiritual haven nestled in the city’s southern region. Established in 2015, it honors the Virgin Mary under the title “Undoer of Knots,” a devotion that originated in 17th-century Germany and gained global prominence through Pope Francis. The sanctuary’s open-air chapels, constructed with wood and thatched roofs, harmonize with the surrounding jungle, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Visitors participate in a unique tradition: writing prayers on white ribbons and tying them in designated areas, symbolizing their petitions. Once prayers are answered, colored ribbons are added in gratitude. This tranquil site offers a space for reflection and connection with the divine.
Santuario del Padre Pío
The Santuario del Padre Pío in Cancún, Quintana Roo, is a spiritual sanctuary dedicated to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. Established in 2008 by Capuchin friars, the sanctuary was inspired by a devout woman named Vicky, who envisioned a place of healing and reflection akin to San Giovanni Rotondo. The site began with a modest chapel and has since grown into a vibrant community center. In 2017, a church accommodating 300 people was completed, serving as the headquarters of the quasi-parish of San Pío de Pietrelcina. The sanctuary focuses on social, pastoral, and spiritual development, offering sacraments, retreats, and community outreach programs. It also features a store selling religious articles, with proceeds supporting the sanctuary’s mission. Visitors are welcomed to experience peace, prayer, and a deep connection with nature.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción
Located in Campeche, Mexico, this is a prominent Roman Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Diocese of Campeche. Construction began in 1705 on the site where Francisco de Montejo established the first church in 1540. The cathedral was completed in 1760 and elevated to cathedral status in 1895 by Pope Leo XIII. Its architecture features a Baroque façade with neoclassical elements, including twin bell towers and a carved stone entrance. Inside, it houses sacred art, notably “El Santo Entierro,” a sculpture of Christ in a glass coffin, paraded during Good Friday processions. Situated in Campeche’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral stands as a testament to the city’s colonial heritage.
Iglesia de San Román
Located in Campeche, this is a historic church built in the 16th century. It is renowned for housing the revered “Cristo Negro” (Black Christ), an ebony crucifix that arrived from Europe in the 16th century. The church’s architecture features a Latin cross layout, a single nave, and a façade resembling a small medieval fortress with a two-tiered tower. Each September, the church becomes the center of the Fiestas de San Román, a two-week celebration honoring the Black Christ, drawing pilgrims from across Mexico. The Iglesia de San Román stands as a testament to Campeche’s rich cultural and religious heritage.
Convento de San Antonio de Padua
The Convento de San Antonio de Padua in Izamal, Yucatán, is a 16th-century Franciscan monastery built atop the Mayan pyramid Pop-hol-Chac. Constructed between 1549 and 1561 under Fray Diego de Landa, it features a vast atrium, second in size only to St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, enclosed by 75 arches. The monastery houses the revered image of the Virgin of Izamal, brought from Guatemala, and remains a significant pilgrimage site. Its distinctive yellow-and-white façade, adopted citywide after Pope John Paul II’s 1993 visit, symbolizes Izamal’s blend of Mayan heritage and colonial history.
Convento de San Bernardino de Siena
Located in Valladolid’s Sisal neighborhood, this is a 16th-century Franciscan complex built between 1552 and 1560. It is the second-largest Franciscan construction in Yucatán, after the convent in Izamal. The architecture blends Spanish colonial and indigenous Maya styles, featuring thick stone walls, battlements, and a long arcade reminiscent of a fortress. Inside, visitors can admire a baroque wooden altarpiece with arabesque motifs, as well as images of the Sorrowful Virgin and Saint Teresa of Jesus. Beneath the convent lies the Sis-Há cenote, once used by monks as a water source, now part of the site’s museum exhibiting pre-Hispanic and colonial artifacts. A nightly light and sound show narrates the history of Valladolid and the convent.
The Religious Tourism & Pilgrimage Specialists
Welcome to Tours Peregrinos Mexico, the only religious tourism and pilgrimage tour operator specializing in the organization and logistics of Catholic Journeys in Mexico.
Tours Peregrinos Mexico has that experience, along with extensive knowledge of the religious-cultural destinations of Mexico. Our devout Catholic staff are multi-lingual, multi-faceted and highly prepared to assist you and your plans of pilgrimaging into Mexico’s religious corners and sites.
With comprehensive experience with continuous communion with Mexico’s numerous sacred sites and care-takers, Tours Peregrinos Mexico has built a relationship not only based on faith but on respect and integrity, allowing us access to sites, locations and events that would otherwise be impossible to be given access to. Allow Tours Peregrinos Mexico to be your guide to the culture and faith of Mexico.
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