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Church of La Merced

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LenR
LenR
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4 out of 5
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Church of La Merced

  • July 13, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by LenR from Townsville, Australia
Church of La Merced

Erected in 1536 and rebuilt in Baroque-style in1680 after the great earthquake, the Iglesia de La Merced ranks just below Cusco Cathedral and La Compania Church in importance. To emphasise this importance, the church was designated a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1946. The church and convent were founded by Riña Sebastián de Castañeda on a plot donated by Francisco Pizarro.

La Merced has a beautiful facade, including the baroque-style tower, and lovely cloisters. Inside, there is a main wide gallery and two relatively narrow corridors. Its main altar is neoclassic with six solid Corinth columns. There are other altarpieces with different images, among which stand out the Señor de Huanca (Lord of Huanca) and the Cross of the Priest of Urraca, which are covered with silver plates.


The sacristy contains a small museum of religious art, including a spectacular 1.3 meter high and 22 kg. solid-gold monstrance swathed in precious stones. This is crowned by an immense siren-shaped pearl, which is considered the second largest of the world. There is also a painting of the Holy Family attributed to Rubens.

We thought the convent's cloister was the most beautiful and amazing structure within the complex. It is square-shaped, has two floors, and one arc-shaped entrance with thick and solid rectangular pillars that exhibit the Corinth columns carved on their front sides. The second cloister, from 1650, is relatively simple and more modern. The first cloister has canvases representing the life of Saint Pedro de Nolasco that were painted by Ignacio Chacón in 1763. In addition, Basilio Pacheco painted the enormous canvas representing the benefactors of the order, which is located near the staircase that leads to the second floor. On the second level, there is a collection of canvases representing the life of Saint Augustine, which was moved after the destruction of the Saint Augustine church and the convent.

The church's crypt shelters the remains of two famous conquistadors, Diego de Almagro and Gonzalo Pizarro.


The entrance fee is 6 soles. The museum opens Monday to Saturday 09:00-12:30, 14:00-17:30.

From journal Christian Cusco

Church of La Merced

  • June 30, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by LenR from Townsville, Australia
Church of La Merced

The Iglesia de la Merced, built where the first Mass in Lima was celebrated, has a history of destruction and reconstruction. Originally built in 1534, La Merced was determined to be too small and a larger version was erected. It was then torn down and rebuilt in 1628. In 1687 the church was destroyed by an earthquake and again rebuilt. It was later damaged in the big quake of 1746 and gutted by a fire in 1773.


The Church of La Merced which stands today was completed in the late 1700s and has an ornate baroque colonial façade. In particular, you should note the ornate columns, which are wrapped with carved grapevines. Because it is situated in the centre of the commercial area, it is one of the most well-known churches in Lima. If you are walking the pedestrian street, you must go inside. Followers of Padre Urraca can be seen each day as they come to La Merced to honor this 17th Century priest.

The church has a portal which is a masterpiece carved in granite brought from Panama, with bent columns of Baroque style. The roof of the church is elegantly decorated with figures made of plaster. In the interior of the church is an ornate main altar in the neoclassical style which is dominated by the figures of the Virgin of Merced and a carving of Saint Michael the Archangel. Another highlight is the chapel of Friar Pedro Urraca that contains a roughly carved wooden cross which, according to legend, he used to escape from a demon.

This church is an excellent example of the splendour of Spanish colonial architecture. The church is filled with works of art, such as the main altar dedicated to the Virgen de las Mercedes, patron saint of the Peruvian armed forces, and a beautiful sacristy decorated with Arabesque tiles. La Merced houses one of the finest collections of colonial oil paintings and carvings in Lima. I recommend it to everyone.

From journal Around Lima's Main Square

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