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The monumental complex of the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco of Lima, also known as "San Francisco el Grande" or "San Francisco de Jesús", is located in the Historic Center of Lima, Peru. This church together with the Sanctuary Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and the Church del Milagro set up one of the welcoming and artistic corners of Lima. Ramón Menéndez Pidal, Spanish philologist and scholar in this regard commented: "It is the largest and noblest monument that erected in these prodigious lands the conquest".
The church and convent are part of the Historic Centre of Lima, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991.
Very nice church and an interesting story of the catacombs - which were the source of income for the monastery. Monks were charging money for burying people under the church, as it was assumed as the best place to get to heaven. However, as there was not enough space to bury everyone interested, they were "reusing" same places multiple times, excavating and sorting, by type, bones of those, who were burried earlier. Doesn't require a lot of time to make the visit.
Aleksander OleszkiewiczFeb 10, 2018
The church was not open to visit inside. Pleasant atmosphere outside feeding pigeons with corn. Beautiful cathedral!
Joshua KaminskiMar 3, 2018
Beautiful church, I visited this place as part of the double decker city tour. We walked around the church and its underground burying ground for about an hour. Nice place to learn about the history of Christianity in Peru and the development through time. Spoiler alert, there were lots of bones underneath the church since it was used as a burying ground, so it might scare little kids.
Wuji FeiJan 24, 2018
Imagine paying a fortune to be buried under this church under the pretense of being closer to God but then centuries later they just dig you up and put your bones in a circle for the amusement of gringo tourists... Unique experience, if you go to Cusco it pairs well with visiting Qorikancha which focuses more on the Incan elements in Peruvian Catholicism whereas this is more about the Church. Guide is included with admission which is a big plus.
Peter StraussFeb 4, 2018
Take a tour! We loved this beautiful convent! Worth your time and visit.
Jennifer BakerNov 27, 2017
The scale, art work, intricate carvings throughout the church and convent are stunning however you have to take a tour around which feels very rushed. We did not have time to read the information or examine the pictures at all, we were in each stunning room for less than 2 minutes. This was really disappointing. That being said, it was all beautiful and the catacombs underneath, seeing hundreds of humans bones, was spooky. Not sure it was worth the 15 soles each though as It felt so rushed.
Nat PretzMar 10, 2018
Wonderful place to visit and tour if you appreciate historic places. Beautiful architecture and interesting history lesson to go along with the tour. We got to walk through the catacombs below. Not huge but neat to experience. Take the time to stop here!
Jason ReynoldsApr 16, 2018
Vim aqui a um casamento. A igreja é muito bonita, apesar de já ter visitado muito mais lindas. Estilo clássico e com obras artísticas muito bonitas e dignas de se verem.
Ricardo RibeiroJun 6, 2018
Amazing place, Las Catacumbas beautiful if you might have the opportunity to visit Lima Peru please don't go without visit this beautiful place
Frank FunesJun 15, 2018
It is a beautiful sight to behold. My only hope is that the parishioners from here will expel the Muslim insects that have already begun to infest this land.
T CJun 18, 2018
We were lucky to arrive just before the English tour was about to start. Small entrance fee and no photos as per the requests of the monks; however, everyone takes photos and so they should - the splendour deserves to be enjoyed by everyone. Amazing, spectacular domed roof with an Arabic influence. The catacombs are also interesting and if you look up, you actually gaze into the cathedral above
David MJul 22, 2018
Please don't get me wrong... the place is beautiful, but unfortunately the attention is terrible... during the 45min I stayed at the waiting area (after I refused to go in with my group due the bad attitude of the lady in the cashier), I witnessed three different tenses and hostile arguings. People were misled by the tour guides, horribly treated by the Manager and lied to by the tickets guy. The atmosphere was always tense, and the tours were insufficient for the amount of people (one guide for 30-40 people). My advice? Don't go... visit St. Dom, the Cathedral, St. Peter... any other place... all are very similar (and a LOT cheaper)... the only difference are the catacombs, which are cool. If you go, be ready to have an angry time, just in case it happens. Unfortunately, it seems that the current Administration is more concerned about the money they make than the attention to the tourists.
Alejo MolinaJul 17, 2018
Tour comes with the ticket. Catacombs are interesting. Knowledgeable guides. No photos allowed.
Judy GawelekJul 11, 2018
Fun place to visit , shows the imoprtance lima had back in the day. Certain parts still not accessible so hopefully in the future you can revisit. Great touring into medieval times
AzM MzAJul 13, 2018
Very nice church and an interesting story of the catacombs - which were the source of income for the monastery. Monks were charging money for burying people under the church, as it was assumed as the best place to get to heaven. However, as there was not enough space to bury everyone interested, they were "reusing" same places multiple times, excavating and sorting, by type, bones of those, who were burried earlier. Doesn't require a lot of time to make the visit.
Aleksander OleszkiewiczFeb 10, 2018
The church was not open to visit inside. Pleasant atmosphere outside feeding pigeons with corn. Beautiful cathedral!
Joshua KaminskiMar 3, 2018
Beautiful church, I visited this place as part of the double decker city tour. We walked around the church and its underground burying ground for about an hour. Nice place to learn about the history of Christianity in Peru and the development through time. Spoiler alert, there were lots of bones underneath the church since it was used as a burying ground, so it might scare little kids.
Wuji FeiJan 24, 2018
Imagine paying a fortune to be buried under this church under the pretense of being closer to God but then centuries later they just dig you up and put your bones in a circle for the amusement of gringo tourists... Unique experience, if you go to Cusco it pairs well with visiting Qorikancha which focuses more on the Incan elements in Peruvian Catholicism whereas this is more about the Church. Guide is included with admission which is a big plus.
Peter StraussFeb 4, 2018
Take a tour! We loved this beautiful convent! Worth your time and visit.
Jennifer BakerNov 27, 2017
The scale, art work, intricate carvings throughout the church and convent are stunning however you have to take a tour around which feels very rushed. We did not have time to read the information or examine the pictures at all, we were in each stunning room for less than 2 minutes. This was really disappointing. That being said, it was all beautiful and the catacombs underneath, seeing hundreds of humans bones, was spooky. Not sure it was worth the 15 soles each though as It felt so rushed.
Nat PretzMar 10, 2018
Wonderful place to visit and tour if you appreciate historic places. Beautiful architecture and interesting history lesson to go along with the tour. We got to walk through the catacombs below. Not huge but neat to experience. Take the time to stop here!
Jason ReynoldsApr 16, 2018
Vim aqui a um casamento. A igreja é muito bonita, apesar de já ter visitado muito mais lindas. Estilo clássico e com obras artísticas muito bonitas e dignas de se verem.
Ricardo RibeiroJun 6, 2018
Amazing place, Las Catacumbas beautiful if you might have the opportunity to visit Lima Peru please don't go without visit this beautiful place
Frank FunesJun 15, 2018
It is a beautiful sight to behold. My only hope is that the parishioners from here will expel the Muslim insects that have already begun to infest this land.
T CJun 18, 2018
We were lucky to arrive just before the English tour was about to start. Small entrance fee and no photos as per the requests of the monks; however, everyone takes photos and so they should - the splendour deserves to be enjoyed by everyone. Amazing, spectacular domed roof with an Arabic influence. The catacombs are also interesting and if you look up, you actually gaze into the cathedral above
David MJul 22, 2018
Please don't get me wrong... the place is beautiful, but unfortunately the attention is terrible... during the 45min I stayed at the waiting area (after I refused to go in with my group due the bad attitude of the lady in the cashier), I witnessed three different tenses and hostile arguings. People were misled by the tour guides, horribly treated by the Manager and lied to by the tickets guy. The atmosphere was always tense, and the tours were insufficient for the amount of people (one guide for 30-40 people). My advice? Don't go... visit St. Dom, the Cathedral, St. Peter... any other place... all are very similar (and a LOT cheaper)... the only difference are the catacombs, which are cool. If you go, be ready to have an angry time, just in case it happens. Unfortunately, it seems that the current Administration is more concerned about the money they make than the attention to the tourists.
Alejo MolinaJul 17, 2018
Tour comes with the ticket. Catacombs are interesting. Knowledgeable guides. No photos allowed.
Judy GawelekJul 11, 2018
Fun place to visit , shows the imoprtance lima had back in the day. Certain parts still not accessible so hopefully in the future you can revisit. Great touring into medieval times
AzM MzAJul 13, 2018
Very nice church and an interesting story of the catacombs - which were the source of income for the monastery. Monks were charging money for burying people under the church, as it was assumed as the best place to get to heaven. However, as there was not enough space to bury everyone interested, they were "reusing" same places multiple times, excavating and sorting, by type, bones of those, who were burried earlier. Doesn't require a lot of time to make the visit.
Aleksander OleszkiewiczFeb 10, 2018
The church was not open to visit inside. Pleasant atmosphere outside feeding pigeons with corn. Beautiful cathedral!
Joshua KaminskiMar 3, 2018
Beautiful church, I visited this place as part of the double decker city tour. We walked around the church and its underground burying ground for about an hour. Nice place to learn about the history of Christianity in Peru and the development through time. Spoiler alert, there were lots of bones underneath the church since it was used as a burying ground, so it might scare little kids.
Wuji FeiJan 24, 2018
Imagine paying a fortune to be buried under this church under the pretense of being closer to God but then centuries later they just dig you up and put your bones in a circle for the amusement of gringo tourists... Unique experience, if you go to Cusco it pairs well with visiting Qorikancha which focuses more on the Incan elements in Peruvian Catholicism whereas this is more about the Church. Guide is included with admission which is a big plus.
Peter StraussFeb 4, 2018
Take a tour! We loved this beautiful convent! Worth your time and visit.
Jennifer BakerNov 27, 2017
The scale, art work, intricate carvings throughout the church and convent are stunning however you have to take a tour around which feels very rushed. We did not have time to read the information or examine the pictures at all, we were in each stunning room for less than 2 minutes. This was really disappointing. That being said, it was all beautiful and the catacombs underneath, seeing hundreds of humans bones, was spooky. Not sure it was worth the 15 soles each though as It felt so rushed.
Nat PretzMar 10, 2018
Wonderful place to visit and tour if you appreciate historic places. Beautiful architecture and interesting history lesson to go along with the tour. We got to walk through the catacombs below. Not huge but neat to experience. Take the time to stop here!
Jason ReynoldsApr 16, 2018
Vim aqui a um casamento. A igreja é muito bonita, apesar de já ter visitado muito mais lindas. Estilo clássico e com obras artísticas muito bonitas e dignas de se verem.
Ricardo RibeiroJun 6, 2018
Amazing place, Las Catacumbas beautiful if you might have the opportunity to visit Lima Peru please don't go without visit this beautiful place
Frank FunesJun 15, 2018
It is a beautiful sight to behold. My only hope is that the parishioners from here will expel the Muslim insects that have already begun to infest this land.
T CJun 18, 2018
We were lucky to arrive just before the English tour was about to start. Small entrance fee and no photos as per the requests of the monks; however, everyone takes photos and so they should - the splendour deserves to be enjoyed by everyone. Amazing, spectacular domed roof with an Arabic influence. The catacombs are also interesting and if you look up, you actually gaze into the cathedral above
David MJul 22, 2018
Please don't get me wrong... the place is beautiful, but unfortunately the attention is terrible... during the 45min I stayed at the waiting area (after I refused to go in with my group due the bad attitude of the lady in the cashier), I witnessed three different tenses and hostile arguings. People were misled by the tour guides, horribly treated by the Manager and lied to by the tickets guy. The atmosphere was always tense, and the tours were insufficient for the amount of people (one guide for 30-40 people). My advice? Don't go... visit St. Dom, the Cathedral, St. Peter... any other place... all are very similar (and a LOT cheaper)... the only difference are the catacombs, which are cool. If you go, be ready to have an angry time, just in case it happens. Unfortunately, it seems that the current Administration is more concerned about the money they make than the attention to the tourists.
Alejo MolinaJul 17, 2018
Tour comes with the ticket. Catacombs are interesting. Knowledgeable guides. No photos allowed.
Judy GawelekJul 11, 2018
Fun place to visit , shows the imoprtance lima had back in the day. Certain parts still not accessible so hopefully in the future you can revisit. Great touring into medieval times
AzM MzAJul 13, 2018
| Monday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
| Sunday | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM |
Wander is a travel search engine that allows you to find the perfect travel destination that fits your budget and preferences.