THE GOOD DEATH AND THE TRINITY CHURCHES

These two churches are located facing each other and share the same small plaza called Buena Muerte (Good Death). This is one of the most typical corners of the Lima from the old times.

The Church of the Buena Muerte is a part of a Convent founded in the early 18th Century and whose Capitulary Hall possesses an unchallenged beauty. Although its façade is neat and humble, it fuses finely with the Temple's symmetry.

The Church of Las Trinitarias is an example of the religious architecture of Lima in the 18th Century. The Baroque shapes of its façade and the slender towers crowned by domes of a style with clear influence of the Austrian Rococo, combine to form an impressive and exquisite architectonic compound. Its interior is composed of a single short nave with a broad crucible.

These religious buildings around the small plaza recreate a passage of a Colonial Lima that was famous for having a church on each corner.

Nearby still exist some delightful examples of the residences from mid 18th Century, some in a pitiful state but others that are starting to recover.

Location: Between the Jiron Ancash and Jiron Paruro Streets. 600 metres from the Main Square.

SANTA ANA CHURCH

Shy and still, this church stands over one of the corners of the Plaza Italia Square and has an admirable door and two Neoclassical towers. Its actual appeal has reached us from 1790; year in which it became reconstructed after a fire turned it to shambles.

Its real origins go back to the late 16th Century as a parish devoted to the indigenes and moreover, it shared the same space with the old Hospital of Santa Ana, also dedicated to the care of the indigenes.

Nowadays, the Church contains a most worshiped altar that evaded the mentioned fire and the remains of Jerónimo de Loayza, the first Archbishop of Lima. Among its archives are kept the birth files of some illustrious characters from Lima, as the poet Arnaldo Márquez and the musician Bernardo Alcedo.

Location: Jirón Junín Street, in front of the Plaza Italia Square.

IGLESIA Y MONASTERIO DE LAS DESCALZAS -
THE BAREFOOT FRIARS CHURCH AND MONASTERY

At the opposite side to the Church of Santa Ana is sited the equally interesting and peaceful Church and Monastery of Las Descalzas (Barefoot)). According to the scholars, this example of Colonial architecture impresses due to the sheer volume of its walls.

Its small and well spaced pilasters and the large domes on top of every one of its corners have a superb artistic value.

The small portal of the mid 18th Century is regarded as an excellent example of Mestizo architecture. In its interior, the Neoclassical altars, made of a dark wood with golden rivulets give presence and elegance to the Church.

SANTA CATALINA CHURCH

It has an extensive wall that frames the hinder side of the small plaza of Santa Catalina. To this wall are attached stout buttresses, the ample dome of the crucible, the lateral façade of the Church and a bell gable. It is an exquisite and most valuable compound.

THE IGLESIA DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE COCHARCAS - LORD OF COCHARCAS CHURCH

This small temple was built by the indigenous master builder Sebastián Alonso in the year 1684. Until 1700 it served as the Chapel of a small adjoining Convent devoted to the education of the invalid and poor daughters of the local Indigenous Chieftains or Caciques.

The façade was completed during the 18th Century and presents a Baroque style with an Austrian influence. The main constructing material was adobe bricks, but in 1930 all surfaces were covered with cement. The Church is arranged in two bodies, two belfries and an abutment.

To each side of the façade stands a tower formed by pilasters. Above the capitols of those lays the iron balustrade where the belfries rest.

The interior is composed by a single nave with four half point arches. It contains six altars made of gypsum and wood.

Location: 966 Jirón Huánuco Street.
Phone: (511) 328-2312