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The historic center of Lima has some beautiful colonial churches dating from the 16th century. They’re included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the city.
San Francisco Convent
San Francisco Convent (Convento de San Francisco) is one of the most important and most visited of the churches in Lima. It was built in 1557 and rebuilt in 1672 after an earthquake. A visit to the church and tour of the monastery is one of the highlights of a visit to Lima. Read about it here.
Our Lady of Mercy
The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (Basílica Menor de Nuestra Señora de la Merced) was built in 1591. The first Latin mass in Lima was held here when the first wooden church was built in 1534. The façade of the church was carved by Cristóbal Gómez.
The land for the church was donated by Captain Francisco de Becerra. He’s buried in a crypt in the church alongside his wife. It’s a beautiful church to walk through
Church of San Pedro
The Church of San Pedro (Iglesia de San Pedro), built in 1636, is supposed to be a very beautiful church. Unfortunately, it was closed during my visit.
Church of San Agustín
The Church of San Agustín (Iglesia de San Agustín) features great stone carvings on the façade. It was built in 1573. The church was closed during my visit.
Church of Santo Domingo
Finally, the Church of Santo Domingo (Iglesia de Santo Domingo), built between 1540 and 1590. It holds the remains of Santa Rosa de Lima, San Juan Macías, and San Martín de Porres. The convent is open for visitors for an extra fee.
