- Address: Jirón Lampa y Ancash, Lima, Peru
- Phone: +51 1 4267377
- Working hours: daily 09: 30-17: 45
- Cost of visiting: 7 salt / $ 2,08
The monastery of St. Francis is located in the historical center of the capital of Peru - Lima . In 1991, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The history of the monastery
Lima until the middle of the XVIII century was called the "city of kings" and was considered the center of the Spanish New World. The church and the monastery of St. Francis were erected in 1673. In 1687 and 1746, powerful earthquakes were recorded in Peru , but the center of the colonial architecture of Latin America was practically unaffected. The greatest damage was caused by the earthquake that occurred in 1970. The structure is built in the style of Spanish baroque, as evidenced by the presence of a richly decorated church, encrusted with glazed tiles of corridors and impressive Moorish dome. Some elements of the building are in Mudejar style.
The monastic complex includes the following objects:
- temple;
- monastery;
- the church of La Soledat;
- Church of El Milagro.
Features of the monastery of St. Francis
As soon as you get to the square in front of the monastery of St. Francis, immediately enveloping some exciting atmosphere. Perhaps this is due to the style of the structure or to the huge number of puzzles that are associated with the monastery. Whatever was the cause of this excitement, there is something that can be admired.
As soon as you cross the threshold of the monastery, the pomposity and grandeur of the Spanish Baroque is evident. The church is painted in ocher color, and its facades are decorated with elegant decorative elements and elegant arcades. Inside, everything looks no less elegant - a Moorish dome, a richly decorated altar and numerous frescoes.
The main attractions of the monastery of St. Francis in Lima are the library and catacombs. The world-famous library is the repository of almost 25 thousand ancient manuscripts. Some of them were written long before the arrival of the Spanish colonists in the country. The old artifacts of the library include:
- The Spanish Dictionary, which was published by the Royal Spanish Academy;
- "Holy Bible", published in 1571-1572;
- known painting "The Last Supper", authored by Diego de la Puente.
In addition, the monastery owns 13 ancient paintings and several paintings, which were written by students of the school Peter Paul Rubens. If you go down a few meters under the building of the monastery, you can get to the most mystical part of the structure - the ancient catacombs, which were discovered in 1943. According to research, up to 1808 this part of the monastery of St. Francis was used as a burial place for the inhabitants of Lima. And although the crypt itself is built of concrete and brick, its walls are lined with thousands of human skulls and bones.
According to scientists, at least 70 thousand people were buried in the catacombs. There are many wells filled with the same remains. Moreover, various patterns are laid out of bones and skulls. Tour of the original ancient cemetery can be called one of the most creepy, but at the same time unforgettable impressions from Lima.
How to get there?
The monastery of St. Francis is located just one block from the park of La Muralla and the Armory Square , where you can also see the Cathedral , the Municipal Palace , the Archbishop's Palace and many others. You can get there on foot, for example, if you move from the building of the Peruvian government along the street of Chiron Ankash, then at its next crossroads its magnificent silhouette appears. You can also drive to any transport .
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