Parish of St. Francis of Assisi

The founding heart of Uruapan and its secret murals ⛪

If the Huatápera is the indigenous soul of Uruapan, this parish church is its historical backbone. Located opposite the Martyrs' Square, this site not only marks the place where the colonial city was born in 1533, but also safeguards in its dome one of the most fascinating and unknown artistic histories of the region.

The Origin: The 9 Neighborhoods 🏘️

The history of Uruapan cannot be understood without this place.

• The Foundation: After the arrival of the Spanish, it was the Franciscan Fray Juan de San Miguel who, in 1533, reorganized the natives to found the modern city.

• The Sacred Stroke: Friar Juan designed Uruapan by dividing it into 9 neighborhoods, each with its own chapel, they were distributed in such a way that the entire city formed a large cross. The center of that cross is, precisely, this temple dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi.

Architecture: Stone and Light 🕍

The building is a history lesson in itself:

• Welcome: The first thing that will steal your attention is its impressive access arch, a piece of style that evokes Gothic architecture, whose greyish stone contrasts with the surroundings.

• The Facade: Stylish plateresque, it retains traces of old pink paint that change color depending on the sunlight, giving it a lively and warm appearance.

• The Interior: Upon crossing the threshold, the atmosphere becomes solemn and dim, barely illuminated by the light filtering through the stained-glass windows (where John Paul II is depicted).

The Secret in the Heights: The Iranian Murals 🎨⚛️

This is the detail that few mention. If you look up at the dome, you'll see something unusual in a colonial church:

• The Artist: The pendentives of the dome were painted between 1968 and 1969 by Mohammad Hassan Guchtin (known as Mohamed Sciddel), an Iranian artist who arrived in Uruapan and, after the outbreak of the Revolution in his country, went into exile here forever.

• The work: Sciddel depicted the evangelists surrounded by lines that seem atoms and orbits, creating a cutting-edge and mysterious fusion between religion and science. An abstract and modern vision within a 16th-century temple.

• The Legacy: The painter loved this land so much that he founded a plastic arts workshop and, after his death in 2013, his remains rest in the crypt of this same parish.

🌟 Our Recommendation

Look up.

Many visitors come in, cross themselves, and leave. Don't make that mistake.

1. Stop under the dome: Take a moment to look for the "atoms" in Sciddel's paintings. It's an artistic rarity.
2. The Photo of the Arch: The stone arch at the entrance is the perfect frame for a photo looking towards the square or into the atrium.
3. Context: Visit this temple right after The Huatápera (which is next door). This will help you understand the duality of Uruapan's founding: the hospital for the indigenous people and the parish church for the major liturgy.