Catacombs of Lima

The Catacombs of Lima, located beneath the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco, served as a cemetery from the 17th century until 1810, housing the remains of an estimated 25,000 individuals. Today, they function as a museum, offering guided tours that explore the catacombs’ history and significance.

Planning your visit

Beneath the Basilica and Convent of San Francisco in Lima lie catacombs that served as the city's cemetery from the seventeenth century until 1810, holding the remains of an estimated 25,000 people. They were rediscovered in 1943.

The bones are arranged, in places, into geometric patterns — femurs and skulls laid in concentric circles in circular wells — which visitors find either macabre or oddly beautiful. Burial here was sought after, since interment beneath a church was believed to aid the soul.

The convent above is one of the finest surviving colonial complexes in South America, with a Moorish-influenced library of 25,000 volumes including works printed before the Spanish arrived in Peru, painted cloisters lined with Sevillian tiles, and a coffered ceiling.

Access to the catacombs is by guided tour only, on a fixed route with low ceilings and uneven footing.

Bookable options include colonial city tours with the catacombs included. Current availability is listed below.