Before the arrival of the Spaniards, in the heart of Izamal stood the pyramid Pap Hol Chac, whose name in Maya can be translated as "house of lightning" or "house of the forehead full of lightning". It was the largest in the area, with more than 150 steps, and one of the most important ceremonial centers of the Mayan world. After the conquest, the Franciscans built on its foundation the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, using the stones of the old structure. Founded in 1549 by Fray Diego de Landa, the convent is today one of the main icons of the city and an outstanding example of colonial architecture.Pap Hol Chac remains as a powerful trace of the Maya past, hidden under the current colonial constructions of Izamal's historic center.