The Basilica of San Francisco in the city of

La Paz, Bolivia La Paz, officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz ( Aymara: Chuqi Yapu ), is the seat of government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. With 755,732 residents as of 2024, La Paz is the third-most populous city in Bolivia. Its metropolitan area ...

, is a Catholic church under the advocation of

Francis of Assisi Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...

. It is located in the center of the city, in the square that bears its name,

Plaza San Francisco Plaza San Francisco is a major urban plaza in the city of La Paz, Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia, and a frequent location for political gatherings and protests. It is located in front of the Basilica of San Francisco, La Paz, Basilica of San Francisco ...

. The building was built between 1743 and 1772 but its tower was built in the end of the 19th century.

History

It was built between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries in the so-called

Andean Baroque Andean Baroque (Spanish: ''Barroco andino'' or ''arquitectura mestiza'') is an artistic movement that appeared in colonial Peru between 1680 and 1780. It is located geographically between Arequipa and Lake Titicaca in what is now Peru, where rul ...

style. Milestones in its history include: *In 1548, the Convent of San Francisco was founded along the

Choqueyapu River The Choqueyapu River, sometimes called the La Paz River, is a river in the La Paz Department of Bolivia. It belongs to the drainage basin of the Amazon. The river originates in a spring called Achachi Qala ( Aymara: ''achachi'' border stone, old, ...

by Fray Francisco de Morales. *In August 1549 the construction of the first Church of San Francisco began, which was concluded in 1581. *Between 1608 and 1612 the first church collapsed as a result of a snowfall of considerable proportions. *Between 1743 and 1744 the construction of the present church began. *In 1753, the closure and the roof of the church's dome were completed. *On April 23, 1758, it was

consecrated Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects (a ...

. *In 1790, the carved façade is finished. *In 1885, the construction of its single tower began. *In 1948, it was declared a

minor basilica Basilicas are Catholic church buildings that have a designation, conferring special privileges, given by the Pope. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectura ...

. *Between 1950 and 1960, part of the convent was demolished. *Since 1965, the church houses a

museum A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying or Preservation (library and archive), preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private colle ...

References

Sources

* ÁLVAREZ LÓPEZ, Rolando. CRONOLOGÍA de SEPTIEMBRE y OCTUBRE de 2010. Rev. Fuent. Cong., oct. 2010, vol.4, no.10, p. 76-80. . Consulted i
www.revistasbolivianas.org.bo
in June, 2013. *''Iglesias mostrarán su patrimonio arquitectónico en la “Noche Blanca”'', published in ''El Diario'', October, 19 of 2012, consulted i
www.eldiario.net
in June, 2013. *Centro cultural Museo San Francisco, Official Web Site https://web.archive.org/web/20140102073422/http://www.museosanfranciscobolivia.com/

Image gallery

Image:San-Francisco Bolivia.jpg, The façade. Image:Inside San-Francisco Bolivia 02.jpg, The cloister.

History

References

Sources

Image gallery

See also