Church of San Francisco, Colonial church in La Candelaria, Colombia
The Church of San Francisco is a colonial church in La Candelaria featuring dark stone interior walls and a large U-shaped gilded altarpiece from the 17th century. This ornate altarpiece spans much of the interior and serves as the visual centerpiece of the sacred space.
Construction began in the mid-1500s and the building was completed in 1621, making it the oldest church structure still standing in the capital. This continuity through centuries reflects the church's importance to the city's development from its colonial founding.
Religious artworks filling the interior blend Spanish and indigenous artistic traditions from the colonial era. Visitors can see how these pieces reflect the cultural meeting between two worlds that shaped early Colombian society.
The church is located on Avenida Jimenez de Quesada and welcomes visitors daily for observation and prayer. Guided tours are available to explain the architectural details and religious significance of the building.
Only three monastic complexes in the city survived the widespread demolition of religious buildings in the early 1900s, and this is one of them. Its survival makes it a rare witness to the original religious landscape of the capital during a period of major change.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
