<h1>The Catacombs of San Francisco, a journey from the depths of the earth</h1>

The crypt of San Francisco, which have become famous with the name of catacombs similarity to the Roman, are a series of underground vaults (below the chapels of the church), they were used until the early nineteenth century. Served as the burial of members of fraternities and sororities.

The San Francisco architectural complex was built in parts, between 1537 and 1673, is divided into three parts: The temple, the Convent and Catacombs, also has a beautiful fountain in its courtyard.

In 1947 were opened galleries and passages that were boarded up, to carry out excavation work, cleaning and light fixtures, three years later in 1950 the catacombs were open to the public.

In his extensive travel or vaulted ceilings can be seen planes linked by passages and arches. Built with brick and masonry on the floor of them are rectangular graves where the coffins were placed one upon another, separated by land and lime, lime accelerates the decomposition process, preventing epidemics early and odors. Inside the catacombs are buried 25 000 people.

Throughout the tour of the catacombs is repeated much the view of skulls, femurs, tibia and fibula, so are the toughest parts of the body. There are also pits or ossuaries that are designed to absorb the seismic waves and the depth is ten meters.


The total area of these crypts have not yet been calculated and it is believed there may be a connection between its galleries, the Government Palace and the nearby Homeless.

There is a crypt which is known by the name of the venerable crypt, where the remains of Fray Juan Gómez who immortalized in his famous Ricardo Palma Tradiciones Peruanas, Fray Andrés Corso one of the founders of the Convent of the Barefoot and Fray Jose Mojica, a famous Mexican artist film and opera singer, who died in Lima on September 20, 1974.

How to get there?

The Catacombs of San Francisco is located in the Plaza San Francisco (corner shreds, Wide and Lampa) - Lima, Peru

Visiting hours:

Monday to Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m.
Admission is S /. 5.00 soles to the general public
Students S /. 2.50 new soles and Children S /. 1.00 nuevo sol.


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