The first request to establish a convent in Llucmajor dates back to 1576, an initiative that originated in the Convent of Jesus in Palma, founded by Father Catany, a native of Llucmajor. From there, brothers and other preachers would come to beg for alms at the village farms. The Carmelites tried to establish themselves in Llucmajor, but the town decided that it should be the Franciscans who settled there. After the bureaucratic procedures, the first Franciscans settled in their first monastery located on the street of the same name (Monestir). In the early years, the Franciscans lived on subsidies granted to them by the town council.
The Franciscans soon became close to the town, carrying out their apostolic work, offering study centres where culture could be received and transmitted, as well as assisting the sick and the poor. The Convent of Llucmajor soon became an important centre of Christian faith and culture.
In 1608, they moved to their current location, and the church was built between 1620 and 1656. The convent was built after the church, in the second half of the 17th century. The church is Renaissance in style, with sober and elegant lines.
The main portal is Baroque from the 18th century, with the ‘Porta Coeli’ characteristic of Franciscan churches. In the niches on the sides, now empty, there were statues of Saint Francis and Ramón Llull. In the upper part and in the centre is the Immaculate Conception, and the portal is topped by the Franciscan coat of arms presided over by the cross. Above the main doorway is a rose window with concentric mouldings and, to its right, a sundial. The side doorway is also Baroque in style and is presided over by Saint Bonaventure. The bell tower has a square base and is surrounded by a balustrade at the top.
Inside, the chapel of the Nativity, which is greatly revered by the Franciscans, stands out. The main altarpiece is in the late 17th-century Baroque style. The choir is supported by lowered arches and the organ was built at the end of the 17th century. The sacristy is located to the right of the presbytery and was built between 1694 and 1697.
Among the illustrious Franciscans born in Llucmajor, Father Boscana (1775-1831) stands out, who participated in the Californian Mission of San Juan de Capistrano.
