Basilica of San Francisco, La Paz, Bolivia

The Iglesia de San Francisco stands on its namesake plaza at the center of La Paz and ranks among the most significant colonial churches in Bolivia. Construction began in 1549 under Franciscan friars during Spanish colonial rule, but an early structure collapsed under heavy snowfall — the present building was rebuilt from 1743 and completed later in the 18th century. Its richly carved sandstone facade is a rare showcase of Andean or mestizo Baroque: European Baroque compositions interwoven with indigenous motifs including parrots, tropical plants, and hunting scenes, reflecting the cultural syncretism of the colonial era. The Plaza San Francisco in front of the church remains one of La Paz's busiest public gathering spaces, while the church interior and its adjoining museum passages trace the history of Bolivian Catholicism and the Franciscan order in the Andes.