Monastery of San Francisco, Franciscan monastery in Historic Center of Lima, Peru.
The Monastery of San Francisco is a Baroque building in central Lima featuring a basilica, multiple courtyards, and numerous chapels that expanded over several centuries. Beneath these structures lie extensive underground spaces connected by stone passages that form a significant portion of the complex.
The monastery was built by the Franciscan Order shortly after Lima's foundation in the 16th century, beginning as a simple chapel that gradually grew into a major religious center. Over centuries it was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded while remaining a key institution in the city's history.
The chapter house holds a historical role: the regular clergy signed Peru's Act of Independence there, while secular clergy signed at the cathedral. The main cloister's 39 canvases of 1671 depict scenes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi, painted by Lima artists.
The monastery is open daily for visitors and can be explored independently or with guided tours available in multiple languages. Wearing comfortable shoes is advisable since you will walk through both the surface areas and underground passages.
The chapter house where the Franciscans elected their superiors was where the regular clergy signed Peru's Act of Independence, while the secular clergy signed at the cathedral. A carved high-relief of Friar John Duns Scotus and an image of the Immaculate Conception stand in the room.
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