Iglesia de San Caralampio

The neo-rococo Iglesia de San Caralampio (4a Av. Ote. Nte. at 2a Calle Nte. Ote., hours vary) is a striking rust and mustard-yellow church that sits on a leafy plaza. It’s named after an obscure Russian Orthodox saint whose image is said to have stopped an outbreak of smallpox and cholera from a nearby ranch during the 19th century.

The church is in one of the oldest and prettiest neighborhoods in the city—Barrio La Pila. It is a colorful colonial place, one worth wandering about in. Look for the neighborhood’s namesake, La Pila del León (4a Av. Ote. Nte. at 1a Calle Nte. Ote.), Comitán [1]’s first public water source.