The San Francisco Monastery is a 17th-century church of Spanish Baroque design in the center of Lima. It is a large complex, incorporating a convent, a temple and two separate churches called La Soledad (The Solitude) and El Milagro (The Miracle). The site also contains a library and an underground cemetery. The monastery is part of Lima’s historic center, which was made a UNESCO site in 1991.
Take photos of the church’s colonial yellow-and-white façade from the patio outside. It is of baroque design from 17th-century Europe. Explore the eerie catacomb beneath the church. It is an underground cemetery where it is said that around 75,000 bodies are buried. It is not for the faint of heart, since many parts of the remains are exposed.
Browse the reputable library in the complex’s convent. It is home to around 25,000 antique texts of religious and cultural importance. Many of these texts pre-date the arrival of the Spanish in South America. One of the library’s highlights is an edition of the Holy Bible that dates back to 1571. See the church’s central altar, which is carved from wood. Admire the corridors of 17th-century tiles from Seville.
The church pays tribute to Saint Jude the Apostle, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Construction began on the church in 1673, although it was not completed until 1774. Despite surviving several earthquakes in its early years with relatively little damage, a tremor in 1970 caused extensive destruction.
It opens daily from morning until late in the afternoon. You can take guided tours of the complex, including the catacombs. The tour of the complex lasts around an hour. There is a small entrance fee.
You can find the San Francisco Monastery in the historic center of Lima. It is just south of the Rimac River and backs on to the Parque de la Muralla (Park of the Wall). Take a bus to the Julián Piñeiro stop just the other side of the river, and cross over the Avenida Abancay Bridge. Nearby attractions include the city’s most important area, Plaza Mayor. It is home to the Government Palace and the Cathedral of Lima.
