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All Peru Lima Convento de San Francisco Ossuary

Convento de San Francisco Ossuary

The mortal remains of an estimated 70,000 people lie in the basement of a monastery in Lima, Peru.

Lima, Peru

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Outside of San Francisco Monastery   thesolotraveler50 / Atlas Obscura User
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The garden squad at the Ossuary   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Gone .... Forever?   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
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Beneath the church at the Franciscan Monastery in Lima, Peru, there is an ossuary where the skulls and bones of an estimated 70,000 people are decoratively arranged.

Long forgotten, the catacombs were rediscovered in 1943 and are believed to be connected via subterranean passageways to the cathedral and other local churches. Both creepy and beautiful, they feature small grates scattered along the upper floor of the cathedral through which, while you are touring, you may look down at any given moment to see the artistically arranged dead illuminated.

Related Tags

Relics And Reliquaries Ossuaries Catacombs And Crypts

Know Before You Go

It's one block northeast from the Plaza Mayor. There is no photography allowed inside the ossuary. There is an entrance fee.

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Added By

zeppomarks

Edited By

Blindcolour, kostas1964ath, perrylunageno, chip520...

  • Blindcolour
  • kostas1964ath
  • perrylunageno
  • chip520
  • Collector of Experiences
  • thesolotraveler50

Published

October 22, 2013

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_San_Francisco,_Lima
  • p.200 http://www.thamesandhudson.com/The_Empire_of_Death/9780500251782
Convento de San Francisco Ossuary
130 JirĂłn Amazonas
Plaza San Francisco Lima
Lima, 15003
Peru
-12.045361, -77.027011
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