Ruins of the convent and Church of “La Recolección”

This story dates back to 1695, when a Recoleto friar requested permission to found a convent for missionary priests. He was one of two friars who had arrived in Guatemala in 1685. In 1687, two years after, four other missionaries joined the original two. The six of them lodged in El Calvario waiting for permission.

During the Colonial era, Antigua Guatemala was the center of religious life and it was not possible to provide financial support to the many religious congregations that established in the city.

For this reason, the request of the Recoletos was not approved.
City authorities considered that, if friars and nuns kept to a minimum, they would be forced to spread throughout the country to disseminate their message. They would, therefore, not need to establish in a convent or temple and the authorities would not be burdened with their requests.

Missionaries lived in poverty and supported themselves with charitable contributions. For this reason and because the missionaries had done admirable work, the Ecclesiastic Community decided to provide them financial support. On July 16, 1770, a Royal Permit was issued to found the School of Crucified Christ of the Apostolic Missionaries.

Architect Diego de Porres lead the construction crew. The first stone was placed on September 8, 1701. The cloisters, health center, library, and classrooms were completed seven years later.

Noble work and high ideals

Its missionary spirit, especially among the indigenous population, characterized the order. Missionaries lived in very modest places. It is very odd that, regardless of the order living off charity, they were able to erect huge buildings.

The temple was ended and inaugurated in 1717, but a few years later it succumbed to one of many earthquakes that hit Antigua Guatemala.

The damage was substantial and restoration and reconstruction immediately started. In 1751, another earthquake damaged the building once more. The friars immediately started working and successfully rebuilt their headquarters.

The building was magnificent, with a large central nave. The sacristy was larger than any other in Antigua Guatemala; it was so massive that other churches were the size of the nave.

Location in La Antigua Guatemala

Click here and go to the interactive map.

But not only the earthquakes deteriorated the convent; with time, the convent’s materials were used to construct walls for other buildings in town. The convent was used to set up carnivals and the sacristy was once used to make soap. Other areas of the convent were used to store carts.

It is said that, after the earthquakes, some columns and vaults were blown up with gunpowder to prevent further crumbling. Some people believe that this was done in order to prevent the church from being rebuilt when the order was forced to leave town.

When you visit the ruins, don’t forget to pay attention to the size of the blocks that were used in the original building. They are the very few reminders of the convent’s grandeur of days gone by.

Open: Monday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.