Iglesia de San Francisco


Outgunning the cathedral on Plaza de Armas is this elaborate church with striking stone carvings and decadent altars. Unlike other illustrious Cajamarca churches, the San Francisco has two belfries. It houses the slightly dog-eared Museo de Arte Religioso full of 17th-century religious paintings by indigenous artists. The museum includes some creepy catacombs – in one room you'll see the orderly tombs of monks, and in another are skeletons recovered from indigenous graves found at the site, lying bare and without ceremony.

The intricately sculpted Capilla de la Dolorosa to the right of the nave is considered one of the finest chapels in the city. Look out for a depiction of the Last Supper carved in stone on the left side of the altar.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. El Cuarto del Rescate

0.03 MILES

The Ransom Chamber, the only Inca building still standing in Cajamarca, is where Inca ruler Atahualpa was imprisoned. The small room has three trapezoidal…

2. El Complejo de Belén

0.11 MILES

Construction of this sprawling colonial complex, comprising a church and hospital made entirely from volcanic rock, occurred between 1627 and 1774. The…

3. Museo de Arqueológico & Etnográfíco

0.14 MILES

This small museum has exhibits of pre-Columbian pottery and stone statues, as well as displays on local costumes and clothing, domestic and agricultural…

4. Catedral de Cajamarca

0.16 MILES

This squat but ornate building was begun in the late 17th century and only recently finished. Like most of Cajamarca’s churches, the cathedral has no…

5. Cerro Santa Apolonia

0.27 MILES

This garden-covered viewpoint, overlooking the city from the southwest, is a prominent Cajamarca landmark. It is easily reached by climbing the stairs at…

6. Cumbemayo

4.49 MILES

Cumbemayo (derived from the Quechua kumpi mayo, meaning ‘well-made water channel’) is an astounding feat of pre-Inca engineering. These perfectly smooth…

7. Ventanillas de Otuzco

4.58 MILES

This pre-Inca necropolis has scores of funerary niches built into the hillside, hence the name ventanillas (windows). Set in alluring countryside, 8km…

8. Ventanillas de Combayo

5.81 MILES

Combayo is the largest and most impressive collection of funerary niches in the region, although its location 30km northeast of Cajamarca means it's less…