Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
30 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Kikil Ex-Convento Franciscano de Kikil
AO Edited

Ex-Convento Franciscano de Kikil

The ruins of a 16th-century Spanish convent tell a forgotten history.

Kikil, Mexico

Added By
linkogecko
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Ex Convento de San Francisco (Former Convent of Saint Francis)   Misael Lavadores/CC BY-SA 3.0
Ex Convento de San Francisco (Former Convent of Saint Francis)   Misael Lavadores/CC BY-SA 3.0
Ex Convento de San Francisco (Former Convent of Saint Francis)   Misael Lavadores/CC BY-SA 3.0
Ex Convento de San Francisco (Former Convent of Saint Francis)   Misael Lavadores/CC BY-SA 3.0
Ex Convento de San Francisco (Former Convent of Saint Francis)   Misael Lavadores/CC BY-SA 3.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Following the Spanish conquest of Mexico, various Catholic orders began building convents and missions in the new colony. These orders worked to convert Indigenous people to Christianity, as well as support the faith of European colonists. Dominicans and Franciscans were the two main orders present in the Yucatan Peninsula, and it was the Franciscans who eventually built the Convent of Saint Francis in Kikil, Mexico.

The convent was founded in 1576. Eight years later, the order dedicated a huge church to San Roman that was built beside the convent. The convent and church remained in use for the majority of the next three centuries until the Caste War broke out in 1847. The Caste War is one of history's longest insurgencies and began when Mayan and mixed ancestry people rebelled against the ruling European class, known as Yucatecos.

There are theories that the name Kikil itself is linked to the convent. According to local lore, a priest was once beheaded inside the church giving the town its name based on the Yucatec Mayan word for blood, k’i’ik’. It is more likely, however, that the name pre-dates the Spanish conquest and is instead derived from k’i’ik’ che’, the word for rubber tree.

Kikil never had a particularly large population, so perhaps it was inevitable that the local Franciscan order would eventually abandon the convent. Between 1855 and 1863, during the Caste War, the Mexican government passed the Reform Laws. The laws targeted the Catholic Church's possessions and led to a large number of convent and church buildings becoming private or government property. Many others were simply abandoned, such as this Franciscan convent.

While 14 local community members have submitted plans to renovate the building, debate over who exactly owns the centuries-old convent has stalled efforts. Today, the vegetation-covered ruins stand as an impressive reminder of this small town's place in Mexican history. 

Related Tags

Colonialism Religion Monasteries Churches Ruins

Know Before You Go

Various names are listed online for the convent, including: Ex Convento Franciscano, Ex Convento de San Francisco (Former Convent of Saint Francis), Convent of San Francisco Kikil, and others. 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Oaxaca: Markets, Mezcal & Home-Cooked Meals

A Culinary and Cultural Journey Through Oaxaca.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

linkogecko

Published

February 6, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://inside.sfuhs.org/dept/history/Mexicoreader/Chapter4/lareforma.htm
  • https://yucatanmagazine.com/in-tiny-kikil-explore-the-remains-of-an-impressive-16th-century-convent/
  • http://roberto-hernandez.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218:inah-yucatan-convento-de-san-francisco-kikil&catid=122:cultura-conservacion-y-restauracion
  • https://notirasa.com/noticia/tizimin-abandono-de-convento-ocasiono-su-ruina/3593
  • https://puntomedio.mx/piden-reconocer-la-custodia-del-convento-de-kikil
Ex-Convento Franciscano de Kikil
Tizimín
Kikil, 97705
Mexico
21.192267, -88.168379
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Three Kings Catacombs

Tizimín, Mexico

miles away

"Angels" of Ek' Balam

Ekbalam, Mexico

miles away

Cenote Hubiku

Temozón, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 606
Stories 61

Nearby Places

Three Kings Catacombs

Tizimín, Mexico

miles away

"Angels" of Ek' Balam

Ekbalam, Mexico

miles away

Cenote Hubiku

Temozón, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 606
Stories 61

Related Places

  • Monk Bretton Priory.

    Barnsley, England

    Monk Bretton Priory

    These medieval monastery ruins are surprisingly overlooked by most tourists.

  • Sohag, Egypt

    Red Monastery

    An early Christian basilica modeled after an Egyptian temple showcases some the best-preserved frescos from late antiquity.

  • Church of St. Sophia in Nessebar

    Nessebar, Bulgaria

    Hagia Sophia Church

    This fifth-century church is one of the oldest Christian sites in the Balkans.

  • These ruined arches date back to the 12th century.

    Colchester, England

    St Botolph's Priory

    Dating back to the early 12th century, this is the first Augustinian priory established in England.

  • Velha Goa, India

    The Convent of St. Dominic's Cross

    The only surviving relic of the abandoned Dominican convent.

  • Zsámbék, Hungary

    Premontre Monastery Church of Zsámbék

    The remains of a 13th-century Romanesque church lie abandoned on a hillside.

  • A cream-colored Greek church behind a black iron fence and gate

    Athens, Greece

    Holy Church of Saint Andrew

    A martyred saint built a nunnery and school for girls here known as the "Parthenon."

  • Raposeira, Portugal

    Seminário de Santa Teresinha

    A devasting 2020 fire left this historic seminary in ruins.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.