Church of San Francisco
Iglesia de San Francisco
One of Bogotá's oldest surviving churches, with a plain exterior and a breathtaking interior gilded wood-carved altarpiece.
The church was begun in 1557 and completed at the end of the 16th century. It was rebuilt after earthquakes but still retains its colonial-era main structure. The main altarpiece inside is a massive 17th-century gilded carved screen, covered in reliefs of saints, plants, animals and scenes from the Bible, and is regarded as a masterpiece of Colombian colonial art. Entry is free (please keep quiet during Mass). It stands at the intersection of Seventh Avenue (Carrera 7) and Avenida Jiménez, directly across from the Gold Museum, so the two can be visited together.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–19:00 (visits restricted during Mass)
Nearby sights
- International Emerald Museum
- Gold Museum
- Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá
- Luis Ángel Arango Library
- Bolívar Square
- Botero Museum
- Colón Theatre
- Chorro de Quevedo