The convent was built using stones harvested from the demolished Maya temple of Pap-Hol-Chac.
Its atrium covers an area of approximately 7,800 square meters.
The structure served as a strategic military fortress during the Spanish colonial period.
The statue of the Virgin of Izamal housed here survived a major fire in 1829 that destroyed the original image.
The yellow paint throughout the city and the convent is a signature of Izamal, representing corn and the sun.
Pope John Paul II visited the convent and held a mass in the atrium in 1993.
The Convento de San Antonio de Padua in Izamal, Yucatan, is the second-largest enclosed atrium in the world, surpassed only by the Vatican. Constructed by Spanish friars between 1549 and 1561, it stands directly atop the ruins of the Mayan temple Pap-Hol-Chac. The fortress-like complex utilizes stones reclaimed from the base of the demolished pyramid for its foundations and walls. The convent features 75 massive arches that encompass a large, elevated courtyard. It remains an active Franciscan monastery dedicated to Izamal's patron saint, the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. The complex is painted entirely in a signature yellow, a color scheme consistent with the rest of the city center. The sanctuary houses a venerated effigy of the Virgin brought from Guatemala in the 16th century.
From the center of the vast atrium looking toward the main church entrance to capture the scale of the arches.
Walk the perimeter of the upper terrace for panoramic views of the city's yellow rooftops.
Visit the small museum located within the complex to understand the history of the Maya-Spanish syncretism.
Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the expansive atrium offers very little shade.
Do not attempt to climb or touch the original stone walls, as many sections are under active preservation.
Maintain a quiet volume; dress modestly as it is an active religious site.
