Museo Colonial

Museo Colonial is a museum housed within the San Francisco Church and Convent complex in Santiago, dedicated to art from the colonial period. The collection includes paintings, carvings, and decorative works created during the time of Spanish rule in South America.

The San Francisco Church that houses the museum began construction in 1572 and is one of the few remaining 16th-century structures in Santiago. The building survived natural disasters and changes to the city and now serves as a cultural space.

The name reflects the art form at the heart of the collection: works from the period of Spanish colonial rule in Chile. Visitors can see religious paintings and carvings throughout the rooms that show how the church used craftsmanship during that era.

The museum is located within a larger church and convent complex, so it is worth allowing time to explore both spaces. The location is accessible by public transportation and sits in the historic center of Santiago.

The museum houses one of the largest collections of viceregal art in Chile, a period often overlooked when discussing South American history. This collection allows visitors to see a part of artistic development that took place during Spanish rule.