Lima

  On our way to the Convent of San Fransisco we walked through Plaza Mayor (Main Plaza) in Lima.  This is the cities oldest main public space, it was built in the 16th century.  Plaza Mayor has witnessed many important events in the history of Peru, from bull fights, executions ordered by the inquisition to the declaration of Peru's independance in 1821. Government Palace is also in Plaza Mayor, it was built for the Govenor at the time Fransisco Pizarro in 1884 and it has a daily changing of the guard just like Buckingham Palace but with a brass band.  

 Aunty Nic took us to Casa Riva Aguero which is an old mansion that is now dedicated to higher studies.  It houses 16th century medical books including some of the original works of physicians who continued Claudio Galeno's study of human physiology. The most important books were in glass cabinets and we were allowed to look through them and touch the pages.  The guide said that there is a ghost present in the building who comes out every night, you can capture the ghost with the camera.  He offered for us to come back at night time to visit the ghost but we didn't like the idea.

  We visited the Church and Convent of San Fransisco.  It was founded in 1546 and after many alterations was finished in 1729.  The church is huge and has many paintings and artworks through it, many painted by famous artists such as Rubens.  There is a series of 36 canvas's that recreate the life of Saint Francis of Assisi the Friar who San Francisco was named after. The  building is very detailed and includes many statues, frescos, carvings, patterned tiles and a museum dedicated to a monk who used to be a famous movie star. There was a huge painting of the Last Supper with a few Peruvian alterations such as the table is round, the devil is sitting behind Judas, a self portrait of the artist sitting in another room (as artists were not allowed to sign there own paintings back then), and on the centre of the table was a Cuy (guinea pig) that they were feasting on.

  The library of the Convent of San Fransisco houses around 25 000 books, many of which date back from the earliest years of the printing press as well as bibliographical treasures from the 17th and 18th centuries.  There was no lighting in the room and candles weren't allowed so they made skylights to let in the natural light which light up the whole room.  The two big hymn books at the front weigh between 20 and 25 kgs each, they are bound in timber and the pages are made of skin.

  Underneath the Convent is a maze of catacombs which were used to house any Catholic Peruvians who wished to be placed there regardless of social standing.  The catacombs were used from the 16th century until 1810 when they were closed because of health issues.  There over 25 000 sets of bones burried beneath the church, many of the bones especially skulls have been stolen over time.  They now have glass covers over many of the tombs protecting the bones left there.  To help the bodies decompose quickly, help with the smell and clean the bones the monks used to pour lime on the body once it was in the grave.  There are many layers of bones deep under the church as people were burried in communal graves to save space. The guide pointed out that we were even walking on graves covered by the dirt.  Peruvians wanted to be buried under the church as they hoped it would bring them closer to god in their deaths.  The church and convent are still used today however people are now burried in cemeteries in the traditional catholic way.  Drew