EX-CONVENTO DE SAN BERNANDINO DE SIENA. It is called 'Sisal' to the locals, but is better known as the Monastery of Saint Bernardino of Siena. It was the first church constructed on American soil and its size is imposing. 

It is one of the most beautiful buildings of the colonial era. Construction was started in the year 1552, under the direction of the Franciscan Friar Juan de Mérida and Fathers Hernando de Guevara, Francisco de la Torre.  It was erected over the vault of a very large cenote. You can still see some of the original paintings behind the altar piece, as well as its ancient garden with its water wheel.  Another amazing things about the monastery was created to be self sustaining. 

The monks raised all their own food, they planted huge orchards and vegetable gardens and had fresh water from the cenote. The monastery was completed in 1560. One note of interest is that the word for monastery and convent in Spanish is Convento.

On this street you can see the incredible colonial constructions which were built in the 1600's. This street has been admired by thousands and is a place where your imagination will return you to days goneby. 

SAN ROQUE MUSEUM 

San Roque was a temple and Franciscan Convent and in the year 1575 became a center for the evangelism of the Maya until 1634 when it was changed to a hospital, the first in the village named for the Sainted name of Jesus. 

The building was renamed after several war victims were buried in the back of the building after being executed. The remains of Mayors Hipólito de Osorno and Pedro Gabriel de Covarrubias, men who were brought to fame by perpetrating the death of two men who had taken refuge in the church in the town square. Because of this the church was partly rebuilt with the door facing north instead of west as all of the other catholic churches. 

The building was also part of the first spark of the Mexican Revolution when some perpetrators were executed in the back patio and then buried there in 1910. Reconstruction and restoration of the building started in 1983, returning it to its current splendor. In 1993 the building was converted into a museum. 

In San Roque was founded the Brotherhood of la Santa Veracruz which was in Valladolid, Mérida and Campeche in the year 1575, or 30 years after the city was moved from the original site of Chouac-há to Zací.

CENOTE DZINUP OR KEKEN:
Located 4.3 miles southeast of Valladolid, this cenote is underground with a hole in the ceiling. It is probably one of the most photographed cenotes in the Yucatan. Deep, refreshing, crystal clear waters await you and it is a great cenote for swimming. There is lighting and a guide rope to make it easier to enter. Don't forget to buy a picture postcard from the kids at the entrance as taking a picture just never turns out right and you WILL want a picture of this to show the family.