Parroquia de la Purísima Concepción
An 18th-century neoclassical pilgrimage church dedicated to the miraculous Saint Francis, with side-aisle walls covered in ex-voto paintings
Built between 1783 and 1817 at the height of the silver boom, the church houses a statue of Saint Francis known to the faithful as 'Pachito'. It is an important pilgrimage site in northern Mexico. The highlight is the wall of ex-voto paintings (retablos) in the side aisle: hundreds of small paintings depicting people saved from car accidents, illness and mining disasters. They are simple and deeply moving. The floor is made of wooden grave slabs. Around the feast of Saint Francis on October 4 each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive on foot. Entry is free. Please stay quiet during Mass and do not photograph worshippers.
Opening hours
about 07:00–19:00
Nearby sights
- Casa de Moneda
- Plaza Hidalgo & Historic Center
- Túnel de Ogarrio
- Palenque de Gallos
- Capilla y Panteón de Guadalupe
- Pueblo Fantasma
- Cerro del Quemado
- Wirikuta