Lima Cathedral (officially the Basilica Cathedral of Lima, or Basílica Catedral de Lima) is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lima, occupying the eastern flank of the Plaza Mayor (Plaza de Armas) along Jirón Carabaya in the Historic Centre of Lima, Peru. Founded on January 18, 1535, when Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro personally laid the first cornerstone and carried the inaugural timber beam, the cathedral stands directly atop a former Inca sacred Puma Inti shrine and the palace of the local curaca Sinchi Puma. Across four centuries of seismic rebuilding following the devastating earthquakes of 1609, 1687, and 1746, the cathedral evolved into an architectural synthesis of Spanish Renaissance, Plateresque, Gothic-vaulted, Baroque, and Neoclassical styles. Today, it functions both as an active metropolitan basilica and as a comprehensive Museum of Religious Art (Museo de Arte Religioso), drawing history scholars, architecture enthusiasts, and cultural travelers to examine its monumental choir stalls, fourteen gilded side chapels, subterranean crypt, and the tomb of Francisco Pizarro.
What to Expect at Lima Cathedral
Approaching from the Plaza Mayor, visitors first encounter the imposing stone facade designed in 1604 by Juan Martínez de Arrona and sculpted by Pedro de Noguera, flanked by twin Neoclassical bell towers crafted by Matías Maestro after the 1746 earthquake. The central portal, known as the Portada del Perdón (Door of Forgiveness), features Corinthian columns and niches housing statues of the Twelve Apostles surrounding the Sacred Heart of Jesus, topped by Peru’s original coat of arms bearing the motto Plus Ultra. Stepping inside reveals a three-nave interior with two side aisles lined by fourteen distinct chapels. Overhead, late-Gothic ribbed groin vaults—reconstructed in flexible cedar wood and plaster (quincha) to withstand seismic shocks—simulate stone masonry while mimicking a starry sky.
Immediately to the right of the main entrance lies the Chapel of Francisco Pizarro, completely clad in lively Sevillian and Venetian ceramic mosaics depicting the coat of arms of Lima and the conquistadors. Since 1985, the lead box discovered in the cathedral crypt in 1977 containing Pizarro’s verified skeletal remains and skull has rested inside a glass-fronted niche alongside a bronze lion. Proceeding down the central nave, visitors reach the presbytery, dominated by the Neoclassical high altar designed by Matías Maestro and the exquisitely carved wooden choir stalls (sillería del coro) executed by Catalan sculptor Pedro de Noguera in the early seventeenth century. Past the sacristy and chapter house, the Museum of Religious Art exhibits colonial silver monstrances, Cusco School canvases, liturgical vestments worn by Saint Rose of Lima and Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, and historical paintings of the archbishops of Lima.
- Tomb of Francisco Pizarro: A mosaic-tiled side chapel immediately inside the main entrance housing the authenticated lead reliquary and remains of Lima’s Spanish founder, guarded by a sculpted lion and murals detailing the 1535 conquest.
- 17th-Century Cedar Choir Stalls: Masterwork Plateresque and Baroque mahogany and cedar stalls carved by Pedro de Noguera between 1623 and 1632, featuring intricate high-relief panels of saints, apostles, prophets, and mythological grotesques.
- Subterranean Archbishops’ Crypt: A barrel-vaulted brick underground burial chamber beneath the main floor where Archbishops of Lima—including the sixteen-year-old colonial builder François de Sales and Cardinal Juan Landázuri Ricketts—are entombed.
- Chapel of the Immaculate Conception & Ivory Christ: Home to an ornate Baroque gold-leaf retablo and significant colonial devotional sculptures, including a delicate seventeenth-century crucifix presented to the city by King Charles V.
- Sacristy & Chapter House Museum: Galleries displaying historic oil paintings of the Zodiac series attributed to the workshop of Jacob Jordaens, ornate colonial chasubles embroidered with gold thread, and the official portraits of every Archbishop of Lima since Jerónimo de Loayza.
Lima Cathedral at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Jirón Carabaya (Plaza Mayor), Cercado de Lima 15001, Peru |
| Neighborhood / Area | Centro Histórico de Lima (Plaza de Armas) |
| Operating Hours | Daily 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Tourist museum admissions typically run 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Sunday morning reserved for Mass with museum tours in the afternoon) |
| Admission / Price Range | Paid museum admission ($); single cathedral tickets or combined circuit tickets with the Archbishop’s Palace available at the door |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 1 to 1.5 hours (2 hours if pairing with the adjacent Archbishop’s Palace) |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Metropolitano Bus Layer (Jirón de la Unión or Colmena stations, 6-minute walk); subterranean parking garages along Jirón Camaná and Jirón Lampa |
| Official Website & Phone | arzobispadodelima.org | +51 1 4279647 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
To inspect the side chapels, choir stalls, and crypt before tour buses arrive from Miraflores and San Isidro, plan to enter between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM on a weekday. Purchase the combined ticket (boleto integral) at the ticket counter inside the main entrance, as it grants admission to both Lima Cathedral and the neighboring Archbishop’s Palace (Palacio Arzobispal), famous for its carved cedar Moorish-style balconies and stained-glass grand staircase. Complimentary guided tours in Spanish and English are regularly offered by official cathedral docents near the entrance vestibule, or you can follow the numbered interpretive plaques at your own pace. Because the building remains an active Roman Catholic cathedral, modest attire covering shoulders and knees is expected, and flash photography is prohibited to protect colonial pigments and gilding.
Reaching the Plaza Mayor is most efficient via Lima’s dedicated Metropolitano rapid bus transit line—exit at either Jirón de la Unión or Estación Central and walk five blocks north along the pedestrianized Jirón de la Unión. The cathedral’s main nave, side aisles, and sacristy sit on a flat stone floor accessible via a ramp at the side entrance, though descending into the subterranean crypt requires navigating a narrow brick staircase. Immediately outside the doors, you can time your exit for the noon Changing of the Guard ceremony across the plaza at the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno), walk two blocks northeast to the Monastery of San Francisco and its colonial catacombs, or explore the Casa de Aliaga, the oldest continuously inhabited colonial mansion in the Americas, one block behind the Government Palace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the opening hours and best times to visit Lima Cathedral?
The cathedral precincts are open daily from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with museum and tourist ticket windows operating primarily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday and Sunday afternoons following solemn morning Mass. Arriving right at 9:00 AM on a weekday provides the quietest conditions in the Pizarro Chapel and subterranean crypt, and allows you to step outside onto the Plaza Mayor just before the 12:00 PM Changing of the Guard.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance for Lima Cathedral?
Advance online reservations are not required for individual visitors; tickets are sold directly at the main entrance box office on Jirón Carabaya. Travelers can purchase a single ticket for the Cathedral Museum of Religious Art or a discounted combo ticket that includes the adjoining Archbishop’s Palace, payable in Peruvian soles or via major credit cards. Active worshippers attending scheduled liturgical services enter dedicated prayer sections free of charge.
How much time should I budget for a visit?
Budget 60 to 90 minutes to tour the fourteen side chapels, the choir stalls, the underground crypt, and the sacristy art collections with an on-site docent. If you opt for the combined ticket that includes the Archbishop’s Palace next door, allow a full two hours for both historic monuments.
Is Lima Cathedral wheelchair accessible and what is the dress code?
Yes, the main nave, side chapels, choir area, and sacristy museum halls are on a single level and accessible via step-free ramp access, though the underground crypt is only reachable by stairs. As the mother church of the Archdiocese of Lima, visitors must wear respectful clothing that covers shoulders and knees, and hats must be removed upon entering the basilica.
When planning your Lima travel guide or browsing verified attractions in Lima, pair this stop with standout local spots including Ministry of Culture, LuLu's Diner, Sugar Street Bar & Grill, and Lima Main Square (nearby).
