Museo & Convento de San Francisco

Lonely Planet review

The Convento de San Francisco was founded in 1547 by Fray Gaspar de Valverde, making it the oldest monastery in Bolivia. Owing to its inadequate size, it was demolished in 1707 and reconstructed over the following 19 years. A gold-covered altar from this building is now housed in the Casa Nacional de la Moneda. The statue of Christ that graces the present altar features hair that is said to grow miraculously.

The museum has examples of religious art, including various paintings from the Potosí School, such as The Erection of the Cross by Melchor Pérez de Holguín, various mid-19th century works by Juan de la Cruz Tapia, and 25 scenes from the life of St Francis of Assisi.

The highlight of the obligatory tour (ask for an English-speaking guide) comes at the end, when you're ushered up the tower and onto the roof for a grand view of Potosí.