Museo e Iglesia de San Francisco

San Francisco church, in downtown Lima, has the famous catacombs. It’s located just 2 blocks away from the Main Square – Plaza de Armas. You’ll recognize easily this big yellow construction full of doves.

You can't visit this place just by yourself. You have to do it with a tour. There are tours leaving each 15min and there are ones in Spanish and also in English. You are not supposed to walk around just by yourself, although we did it, hehehe. Fee is cheap.

You would start visiting the church and convent. They will explain you about the colonial times and the artwork inside. The beautiful church is just the surface. Under your feet, you’ll see a labyrinth, a cemetery which you could visit. Back during the colonial times, Lima was a small city and they didn’t find a best way to burry the dead people than under the churches. Until today the bishops are buried there. During the whole tour you will see skulls, femurs, and other bones. The “osarios” holes 10m deep are the most “attractive”. They are full of human bones and were built to absorb the sismic waves. I know, it sounds creepy… You can take pictures, but don’t use the flash ;)

At the square outside the church you will see a lot of pigeons, so just follow them if you are looking for the catacombs.

If you are in downtown, visit San Francisco. You won’t regret it. It will give you a better view of Lima during the Colonial Times.