San Francisco Acatepec Temple, Church in San Andrés Cholula, Mexico
Templo San Francisco Acatepec is a colonial-era church in San Andrés Cholula, in the state of Puebla, Mexico. The floor plan follows a Latin cross shape divided into seven sections, topped by a half-dome over an octagonal drum with four small windows that let in light.
The church was founded by Franciscan monks around 1560, and most of its current structure was built during the 17th and 18th centuries. The facade was completed around 1760 and is considered one of the clearest examples of Mexican Baroque architecture in Puebla.
The church's outer facade is covered with colorful talavera ceramic tiles and red bricks, giving it a look that immediately draws the eye. Local artisans still produce these tiles using traditional clay and mineral dyes, keeping the craft alive in the community.
The church is located in the town of San Andrés Cholula and is easy to reach from the center of Cholula. It is open most days and can be visited both as a religious site and as a point of interest, so keeping a respectful tone inside is appreciated.
The original wooden altars inside the church were destroyed in a fire in 1939 and later rebuilt entirely in plaster. In 1946, the church was used as a filming location for the Mexican movie 'Enamorada', which brought it attention well beyond religious circles.
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