Iglesia de San Francisco, La Serena

The Iglesia de San Francisco is a stone structure with a main facade displaying four decorated pilasters, carved relief panels, and three Renaissance-style entrance doors. An adjacent museum of religious art completes the religious complex on this site.

Construction began in 1590 under Fray Francisco Medina using locally sourced limestone and timber from distant forests, with the work completed in 1627. The structure endured significant events that reshaped the region's history.

The church blends European architectural traditions with details inspired by pre-Columbian cultures, reflecting the meeting of Spanish and local traditions. Walking through the interior and examining the decorative elements reveals how these two worlds came together in the building's design.

The church sits at a street corner in central La Serena, making it straightforward to locate and visit. The adjacent museum operates on separate hours, so plan accordingly if you wish to see both spaces.

The building is the sole structure to survive a major attack on the city that destroyed many other buildings, making it a rare survivor from a turbulent chapter in the city's past. This resilience gives the church historical significance beyond its architectural merit.