[1] The San Gabriel church and friary was established in 1529 by the Order of Friar Minors, OFM, Franciscans, after destroying the temple to Quetzalcoatl with evangelization as its initial purpose.

[5] The main church was begun in 1549, with the first stone laid by Martín de Hojacastro, who would become the third bishop of Puebla.

In three corners of the atrium, there are chapels, called "capillas posas", with pinnacle roofs and simple arches which are closed off by railings.

[citation needed] The church has one long nave, which is divided into various sections and covered by Gothic style vaults and cupola.

The interior has a Latin cross layout, with Gothic ribs on the vaults and arched window openings.

[3][6] The altarpieces are Neoclassical, made of wood and plaster, painted white and decorated in gold leaf.

[6] The chapel never received any kind of royal recognition, but the name, "Capilla Real" is thought to have come from area dedicated to the Virgin of the Remedies, the patron of Cholula.

[3] What makes this chapel unique is that its construction is similar to a mosque, with forty nine cupolas, supported by twelve columns and twenty four octagonal pilasters.

[6] In 1986, an annex to the cloister area was converted into Franciscan Library in cooperation with the Universidad de las Americas, just five minutes away.

The friars were originally opposed to the project, as the friary likely sits on the remains of the Quetzalcoatl Temple, and they were concerned about being forced out.