Iglesia de las Nieves, Colonial church in central Tunja, Colombia

The Iglesia de las Nieves is a church in the historic centre of Tunja, built in 1572 and remodelled in the mid-20th century. Its main altarpiece is carved in wood and covered in gold, holding some of the city's most important 17th-century sculptures; the oil paintings decorating it are attributed to Baltazar Vargas de Figueroa.

Founded in 1572 under mayor Miguel de Holguín and dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle, the church later took the advocation of the Virgin of the Snows. It retains altarpieces, ornamentation and artworks from the original temple belonging to the Augustinian community. It was remodelled around the mid-20th century.

Founded in 1572 as the church of San Pedro Apóstol, it later took the name of the Virgen de las Nieves. The Augustinian community kept its retables, ornamentation and artworks, and the oil paintings on the main altarpiece are attributed to the Santafé painter Baltazar Vargas de Figueroa.

The church stands in Tunja's historic centre, near the Plaza de Bolívar and the city's colonial streets. It was remodelled around the middle of the 20th century, so the building seen today mixes the 1572 structure with later work. Look for the main altarpiece inside, carved in wood and covered in gold.

The 1572 founding under mayor Miguel de Holguín is often overshadowed by the later change of dedication from Saint Peter to the Virgin of the Snows. The Augustinian community's original retables, ornamentation and artworks remain in the temple, and the oil paintings decorating the main altarpiece are attributed to the Santafé painter Baltazar Vargas de Figueroa.