San Francisco Temple, Colonial church in Chihuahua, Mexico

The San Francisco Temple stands at 15 Calle Libertad, its walls painted white in keeping with Franciscan austerity. The single nave follows a Latin cross plan, with a half-sphere dome on a circular drum pierced by four square windows over the crossing. A one-body tower with two openings and a small lantern rises beside the simple facade, and the chapel of San Antonio adjoins it.

Construction of the temple began in 1721 and concluded in 1741, making it the oldest standing house of worship in Chihuahua city. The building arose during Spanish colonial times and reflects the early religious growth in the region.

The church was long known as the Templo de la Tercera Orden, and its dedication changed in 1891: when Pope Leo XIII's bull Illud in primis created the Diocese of Chihuahua, the old parish church became the cathedral, so this temple took the name San Francisco de Asís. It is now served by Dominicans.

The building is located on Calle Libertad in downtown Chihuahua and can be visited during regular opening hours. Access is straightforward since it is a central landmark that can be easily reached on foot.

The remains of Miguel Hidalgo, a key figure in Mexican independence, were temporarily interred in the temple's western chapel after his execution in 1811. This episode connects the site to a turning point in Mexico's history.