San Juan Bautista, Puno, Colonial church in Puno, Peru.

San Juan Bautista is a church in Puno, Peru, rebuilt in 1911 after a fire destroyed the previous temple in 1886. Its interior houses the image of the Virgin of Candelaria, crowned patron of Puno, on the high altar. The church was elevated to the rank of Sanctuary of the Most Holy Virgin of Candelaria on 7 February 1988 by Bishop Jesús Mateo Calderón Barrueto.

The parish of San Juan Bautista was founded in 1562 by order of the Bishop of La Paz, separating it from the parish of Paucarcolla. The image of the Virgin of Candelaria has been kept in the chapel since 1700 and was definitively enthroned in 1781, when residents carried it in procession during the siege of Puno by Túpac Amaru's forces. The temple collapsed after a fire on 5 March 1886; reconstruction committees worked for 25 years, and the rebuilt church opened in 1911.

The church houses a venerated image of Our Lady of Candelaria that draws crowds each February 2nd when local people celebrate with traditional dances and regional customs. This annual gathering blends indigenous and Catholic traditions into a festival that remains central to how the community expresses its faith.

The church sits close to Puno's main square and welcomes visitors throughout the year. Those planning a visit should time their arrival outside of regular worship hours to move freely and appreciate the interior without interrupting ongoing services.

The church walls feature mural paintings by Peruvian artist Tadeo Escalante from the late 18th and early 19th century. These works represent important examples of religious art from that period and showcase local talent that shaped the interior.