Built in 1550, La Merced is the oldest surviving church in Comayagua and one of the oldest in Honduras. The construction predates the cathedral by over 150 years and reflects the earliest phase of Spanish colonial building in Central America — simpler and more austere than the baroque grandeur that came later. The church served as Comayagua's first cathedral before the current cathedral was built.
The church stands a few blocks from the central plaza and is easy to visit in combination with the cathedral and the two museums. The interior has been restored and is open for visitors during daytime hours. The exterior stonework is particularly fine.