Iglesia de San Francisco Lima, Peru

Overview

The Iglesia de San Francisco (Church of Saint Francis) is the most visited church in Lima, and with good reason.

Built in 1674, the attractive yellow church is considered the best example of the "Lima Baroque" style of architecture. The handsome carved portal would later influence those on other churches, including the Iglesia de la Merced.

The central nave is known for its beautiful ceilings painted in a style called mudejar (a blend of Moorish and Spanish designs). On a tour, you can peruse the adjoining monastery's immense collection of antique texts, some dating back to the 17th century.

The best part of a tour is a visit to the vast catacombs. The city's first cemetery, these underground tunnels contains the bones of some 75,000 people. In many places the bones have been stacked in eerie geometric patterns.