Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima

Updated April 5, 2026

Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima is a highly acclaimed 5114267377 located in Lima, Peru. With a rating of 4.6 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated 5114267377s in the area.

Location

You can find Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima at XX3F+V59, Jr. Lampa, Lima 15001, Peru.

Visiting Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima

Located in Lima, Peru, Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima is a 5114267377 that visitors to the area may find worth exploring.

Planning Your Visit

The 5114267377 is located at XX3F+V59, Jr. Lampa, Lima 15001, Peru. GPS coordinates: -12.045340, -77.027025. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.

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The Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima is one of those places that just stops you in your tracks, right in the middle of Lima’s historic center. This baroque stunner, finally finished in 1674 after what felt like forever, is packed with mind-boggling catacombs, wild European art, and gorgeous Sevillian tiles—all swirling together to yank you straight into Lima’s old Spanish colonial days.

The yellow facade is impossible to miss, but honestly, it’s what’s inside that’ll get under your skin.

It’s not just the age or the architecture that makes this place special. You’ll spot works credited to Rubens and Zurbarán, duck into underground chambers that once held thousands of souls, and stare up at Moorish-style balconies that have somehow survived centuries.

The Franciscan monks still living here keep the whole thing running as both a living monastery and a museum. It’s a rare peek into Lima’s spiritual core and layers of cultural history.

Wandering the cloisters, you’ll see hand-painted tiles from 1620—exactly the sort of thing UNESCO had in mind when they gave Lima’s historic center a World Heritage nod.

The complex isn’t just the main basilica. There’s also the Church of Soledad and the Church of Milagro, all stitched together into one sprawling block.

Key Takeaways

• The basilica has real catacombs and European art by big names like Zurbarán.
• Construction dragged on from 1546 to 1674, making it one of Lima’s oldest colonial sites.
• It’s still an active Franciscan monastery, but you can visit as a museum too.

About Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima

The Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima is a marvel of colonial architecture. There’s a maze of catacombs underfoot—about 70,000 remains, give or take—and a library stacked with rare manuscripts, some older than you’d expect to find outside a European castle.

This baroque complex has survived Lima’s notorious earthquakes, somehow holding onto its Franciscan roots through it all.

History and Significance

They broke ground here in 1535, just months after Francisco Pizarro founded the city. The current buildings weren’t finished until 1674, mostly because earthquakes kept knocking things down.

This spot is a cornerstone of Lima’s Historic Centre, which is why UNESCO came calling.

The monks who set this place up weren’t messing around. They built a self-sustaining enclave—church, convent, library, and those famous underground chambers.

What’s really wild is how the building has survived Lima’s relentless shaking. They used egg whites in the mortar, which gave the walls a weird flexibility—who knew that would work? The catacombs were Lima’s main cemetery until 1808, when the city finally built a proper graveyard.

What Makes It Special

The catacombs are the big draw. You walk through these dim tunnels, bones everywhere, arranged in haunting patterns. It’s a bit surreal.

The ceiling vaults are carved cedar, with Moorish flourishes you just don’t see in most Catholic churches.

But don’t skip the library. Over 25,000 antique texts live here, including manuscripts from when the Spanish first showed up. Some of these books are from the 1500s—if you’re a book nerd, you’ll lose your mind.

Inside the main church, there’s a neoclassical altar and religious art from the Rubens school. The monastery courtyard is lined with Sevillian tiles from the 1600s, and it’s almost eerily quiet compared to the chaos outside at Plaza San Francisco.

There are two smaller churches attached—the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Solitude and the Church of the Virgin of the Miracle. Locals still use them for daily prayers.

What to See and Do

This place squeezes a ton into one block. You get the dramatic yellow facade, the bone-stacked catacombs, ornate libraries, peaceful cloisters, and all sorts of unexpected corners.

Main Attractions and Highlights

The library is a standout. It’s one of the best colonial collections in South America, with over 25,000 texts from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Books in Spanish, English, Quechua—you name it—stacked up in a room that looks like something out of a gothic novel.

Some of the oldest volumes are so fragile only the monks can touch them. There’s a Bible from 1571 that’s basically a holy relic itself.

The central cloister is a little world of its own, with Portuguese tile work and murals showing the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Some murals look freshly restored, while others are missing pieces—nobody seems to know why.

In the refectory, don’t miss Diego de la Puerto’s 1696 Last Supper. This one has guinea pig and potatoes on the table, which is a quirky Peruvian twist you won’t see in Europe.

Down in the catacombs, about 25,000 people were buried between the 1600s and 1808. When archaeologists reopened the chambers in 1947, they sorted the bones into geometric patterns—skulls here, femurs there. It’s a bit unsettling, but you can’t look away.

Best Time to Visit

If you want some peace, come early on a weekday. By late morning, the tour groups start rolling in, and it gets packed, especially between 11 AM and 2 PM.

You’ll need to join a guided tour—10 soles for adults. Most tours are in Spanish, but if you ask nicely, you might get an English-speaking guide.

No photos allowed in the catacombs or library, so you’ll have to just soak it all in.

The basilica stays open during religious services, but the convent and catacombs close for ceremonies. Double-check the hours before you go—they change for special events.

Visitor Information

The Basílica y Convento de San Francisco is smack in the middle of Lima’s Historic Centre. It’s open every day from 9:30 AM to 5:45 PM, and entry is 7 soles (about $2).

Location and How to Get There

You’ll find the basilica at the corner of Jirón Lampa and Ancash—right in Lima’s Historic Centre. Plug in XX3F+V59, Jr. Lampa, Lima 15001 if you’re using GPS or a ride app.

If you’re staying anywhere central, it’s an easy walk. Taxis and Ubers will take you straight to the door if you just type in “Basílica y Convento de San Francisco.”

You’re also close to Plaza Mayor and a bunch of other colonial sites, so it’s perfect for a walking tour of the old city. Public buses reach the area too, but honestly, the routes are a headache if you’re new in town.

Tips for Visitors

Arrive early—I’m talking right when the doors swing open at 9:30 AM. The morning light hits the Basílica y Convento de San Francisco de Lima just right, and you’ll dodge those massive tour groups that seem to swarm in later.

Trust me, the catacombs get crowded fast, and they’re already a bit claustrophobic. If you’re not a fan of tight spaces, this tip is gold.

The entrance fee is just 7 soles, which feels like a steal, but it’s always smart to double-check locally since prices shift sometimes. Tours here are guided only—no solo wandering through those echoing hallways.

A quick heads up: photography’s a no-go inside the catacombs. I know, it’s a bummer, but you’ll have to leave your camera dreams at the door for that part.

What to bring:

• Cash for your ticket (cards aren’t always an option)
• Comfy shoes—there’s a surprising amount of stairs and uneven floors
• A light jacket, since the catacombs keep things pretty chilly year-round

You’re not just popping into a church here. The whole site includes the museum (Museo del Convento de San Francisco de Asís de Lima), so don’t rush—give yourself at least 90 minutes, maybe more if you like to linger. If you need accessibility info, it’s worth calling ahead at +51 1 4267377.