San Francisco Acatepec church

San Francisco Acatepec church is a Baroque structure in San Andrés Cholula with an exterior covered in handcrafted Talavera ceramic tiles in blue, white, yellow, green, orange, and red laid against red brick. Inside, the space contains multiple chapels with ornate gilded stucco work and intricately decorated altars.

Franciscan friars began construction of this religious complex in 1560, and the work was completed in 1730 following New Spanish Baroque design principles. The lengthy timeline reflects the scale of the construction and the evolving architectural practices of the colonial period.

The interior decorations blend Spanish religious design with local craftsmanship through colorful cherub faces and gilded stucco work. These details show how indigenous artistic techniques were woven into the church's visual identity over time.

Plan your visit for morning or early afternoon hours when the building is open and daylight highlights the colored tiles best. The church sits in a quiet village setting and is most easily reached by personal vehicle or local taxi.

A fire in 1939 destroyed much of the interior, yet the Pantle family from Cholula spent decades restoring the decorative elements using age-old methods. Their work brought back the intricate gilding and stucco details that make the space special today.