If you are currently making your list of things to do when you are Lima make sure you add the Church of San Francisco (La Iglesia de San Francisco) to the list. The Church and monastery are interesting enough, but the real attraction here are the underground catacombs.

For about 2 dollars (US) you can enter the extensive tunnel system of graves containing piles and piles of human bones. The bones are sorted by body type, thanks to a group of archaeologists who inventoried them. In one area the bones are arranged into a work of art, copying the French catacombs. (Oh the things you learn on a guided tour!)

Limenos used catacombs for many years instead of the traditional cemetery we North Americans use. Bodies were brought to the catacombs, doused in quicklime, which caused them to quickly be reduced to skeletons. This was done because it was the quickest and easiest way to dispose of the bodies. Amazingly enough over 25,000 people were buried in these tombs.

The catacombs are however, the last stop on the tour, which is required to enter the building. The tour starts out in the church decorated with ornate foldings, wood carvings, Spanish style mosaics and faience tiles. In the monastery there are plenty of religious works of art and a giant library which stores antique texts and parchments. You will also visit the choir stalls where you can see the large choir songbooks displayed on floor stands.

Exiting the monastery you will pass through a series of beautiful courtyards full of plants, walkways and private little nooks where I imagine the monks pass their time meditating.

From there you enter the massive grave, a glimpse of Hades if you will. The tour guides are quite knowledgeable and fluent in English and provide with gross, but interesting little tid-bits about the tombs such as:

• The crypts weren’t discovered until 1951.
• Originally they were used for church members only.
• The first bodies stored here were laid out in the open until the body decomposed… naturally. (Talk about a smell!)
• Room was made for new bodies by throwing old bones into a deep pit. (Talk about a “Dirty Job”)
• Some experts claim there are close to 70,000 bodies here.

The San Francisco Church and Catacombs is an impressive Colonial-style building located near the historical buildings in Lima’s downtown Plaza de Armas. Tours are available from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.

If you are taking the city tour buses get off on the 3^rd block of Ancash Street in downtown Lima.

Related posts:

• Biking Around Lima
• The Human Body Exhibit in Lima