It was built by order of Viceroy Francisco de Toledo in 1572, under the care of the Franciscan order. It has a simple architectural style, with a single bell tower. It also has a Latin cross floor plan and three naves. This construction, made of stone, lime, and rubble masonry, faced difficulties in the completion of its arches and vaults. The convent is a highly visited attraction and was originally made up of four cloisters. Its most striking painting is “The Genealogy of the Franciscan Order,” considered one of the largest paintings in South America.
After the Spanish conquest of Cusco, the Franciscans arrived in the ancient Inca capital to build a religious temple with an evangelizing purpose. At first, they settled in the San Blas neighborhood, north of the city center. Later, the temple was moved to the Main Square, in the former Inca palace of Qasana. Finally, in 1549, construction was established on the site where the old San Lázaro Hospital once stood, now the current San Francisco Square.
The construction of the Church and Convent of San Francisco began in 1572. The final work was completed around 1652, after the earthquake of 1650. The architect in charge of the project is not known with certainty, although the participation of the Cusco-born Francisco Domínguez Chévez is recognized. Today, the church and convent offer a museum-style tourist route where visitors can see its catacombs, paintings, and historic library with ancient works of great value.
The Church and Convent of San Francisco is located in front of the square of the same name, about an eight-minute walk from the Main Square.
The convent presents a Renaissance style with various influences. It has an impressive ceiling decorated with panels. The church and cloister are generally decorated with paintings from different periods, including works by Basilio Santa Cruz and other anonymous artists of Mannerist and Tenebrist style belonging to the Cusco School.
The museum is distributed across three exhibition rooms with paintings from the Cusco School related to the life of Saint Francis, wooden sculptures, and liturgical ornaments. Other attractions include the catacombs, where historical human remains are preserved, and its library, which houses works of great historical value, such as a polyglot Bible in five languages.
Reference museum hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Reference church opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Sundays: from 6:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Opening hours may vary due to Masses, religious activities, and special dates.
Reference museum admission fee:
general admission: S/ 5.00
Peruvian students: S/ 3.00
Happy passengers