Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
baroque paintings and clad in vintage Spanish tiles - contains the saints' tombs. The
church, however, has the most interesting relics: the skulls of San Martín and Santa Rosa,
encased in glass, in a shrine to the right of the main altar. (For background on the saints of
colonial Peru, see boxed text,
Click here
.
)
Monasterio de San Francisco
( 426-7377;
www.museocatacumbas.com
; cnr Lampa & Ancash; adult/child under 15
S7/1; 9:30am-5:30pm)
This bright yellow Franciscan monastery and church is most
famous for its bone-lined catacombs (containing an estimated 70,000 remains) and its re-
markable library housing 25,000 antique texts, some of which predate the conquest. But
this baroque structure has many other treasures: the most spectacular is a geometric
Moorish-style cupola over the main staircase, which was carved in 1625 (restored 1969)
out of Nicaraguan cedar. In addition, the refectory contains 13 paintings of the biblical
patriarch Jacob and his 12 sons, attributed to the studio of Spanish master Francisco de
Zurbarán.
Admission includes a 30-minute guided tour in English or in Spanish. Tours leave as
groups gather.
MONASTERY
Iglesia de la Merced
( 427-8199; cnr Jirón de la Unión & Miró Quesada; 10am-noon & 5-7pm)
The
first Latin Mass in Lima was held in 1534 on a small patch of land now marked by the
Iglesia de la Merced. Originally built in 1541, it was rebuilt several times over the course
of the next two centuries. Most of today's structure dates to the 18th century. The most
striking feature is the imposing granite facade, carved in the
churrigueresque
manner (a
highly ornate style popular during the late Spanish baroque period). Inside, the nave is
lined with more than two-dozen magnificent baroque and Renaissance-style altars, some
carved entirely out of mahogany.
To the right as you enter is a large silver cross that once belonged to Father Pedro Ur-
raca (1583-1657), renowned for having had a vision of the Virgin. This is a place of pil-
grimage for Peruvian worshippers, who come to place a hand on the cross and pray for
miracles.
CHURCH
Santuario de Santa Rosa de Lima
CHURCH
