Iglesia de San Francisco
Iglesia de San Francisco
4.5
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Built in 1556, Bogota's oldest surviving church has a beautiful ornate interior.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
755 reviews
Excellent
443
Very good
248
Average
59
Poor
3
Terrible
2
Jeff Morrison
Edmonton, Canada14 contributions
Jan 2022
I loved this place. It felt like you were taken back to colonial times. You could feel the devotion of the place. It’s a church, not a museum, and there is a strong spirit to be felt there. Serene and beautiful.
Written January 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Victoria W
Houston, TX137 contributions
Aug 2019
This church is amazing to visit and see the artistic decor and ornate gold on the inside. It is still an active church with masses daily. There are signs saying no photos, but it was unclear if that is all the time, or just during the services since that is when I visited.
Written August 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WImom
Fond du Lac, WI2,341 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Free to enter. Unable to find hours that they are open online but appear to have frequent Masses that are indicative of open hours (Mon-Sat, 7AM, 9AM, 10AM, 11AM, 12PM, 5PM, 6PM; Sun Masses are 8, 9, 10, 11, noon, 1, 5, 6, and 7PM). No photos are allowed. There is a security person that circulates and does not allow photos, even without a flash. I managed two photos until I was asked to stop. The main altar is an elaborate 17th century gilded altarpiece that wraps around the front of the church. There is a side altar to the right of the main altar that is very elaborate also. Along the sides of the church are many wood carved panels depicting religious scenes. The ceiling is very pretty also-green and gold Mudejar decorated. Note the statue of Jesus (immediately to your right as you enter the church in an alcove setting so easy to miss) that has life-like hair (see photo). Legend states that the statue miraculously grew hair and continues to this day. There are beggars outside of the church entrance. Very near the Gold Museum.
Written May 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Guillermo Perdomo
Bogota, Colombia19 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
From the outside it looks like an humble little country town chapel, lost in the middle of busy dowtown Bogota. But as soon as you cross the door you will be inmersed in the most outstanding explosion of the XVI Century Spanish Baroque. The wood carvings fully covered with gold leaf, the smell of candels burning by hundreds in front of every altar but above all, the dramatism of the bleeding Christ and the mourning Virgin will transport you to the deepest Spanish Colonial times.
Written January 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Edward B
Boca Raton, FL134 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Located in the center of Bogotá this cathedral was on easy ride from our hotel. No pictures allowed inside which was a bit strange. The church is just stunning on the inside and should be on everyones list of sights to see while in Bogotá.
Written September 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim B
Grapeview, WA1,377 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
As others have noted, the exterior of this church looks very worn but the interior is beautiful. We arrived as they were celebrating a mass so enjoyed listening to the service and music. It is amazing to realize how old this church is, especially with the many newer buildings surrounding it. Reminds you of the foothold the Spaniards had in this part of the world well before the Pilgrims arrived in North America.
Written March 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cra8zy
Brooklyn, NY60 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
Stumbled on this church during our walk along La Candelaria. From the outside it does not look like much, but inside it's quite nice. It's a bit dark though. But don't let deter you. Enter and have a seat, and relax. No fee to enter.
Written November 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
blueskycolombia
Bogota, Colombia29 contributions
Feb 2013 • Business
This picture was taken in Santa Clara´s Church, wich actually is a colonial art museum.
You are warned to avoid to shot pictures inside San Francisco´s Church
You are warned to avoid to shot pictures inside San Francisco´s Church
Written May 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The World is My Oyster
Orlando, FL19,582 contributions
Nov 2020 • Friends
Not the most impressive church, but a really beautifully designed structure. It is attached to another building, and the white top gives it more character.
Written November 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Myo M
Coquitlam, Canada24,678 contributions
Dec 2019
With a nice length & a beautiful white tower rising from one of the corners of the building, this church for sure is "quite a sight" from outside (just slightly less grand of a structure I would say than those by the same name in Lima, Cusco & La Paz that I had previously been to), but it's the interior which to me was a bit of a letdown with kind of a "subdued atmosphere" maybe just due to the lighting but also likely due to not much glitters & ornateness in the shrines or secondary altars along the length on two sides (although a bit hard to recall with no pics allowed inside), and so yes my visit was just a very brief one for just a 5-minute-or-so walk around inside.
And nearby, actually right across the "big pedestrian street" Carrera 7 which is right beside this church on its east side (a "very lively" street hard to miss with plenty of outdoor vendors selling all kinds of stuff) is the big "gold museum" Museo del Oro (with really quite an impressive collection of both gold & non-gold objects displayed on about 3 floors which are actually "quite packed" with just numerous displays to go through); and also not as much in close proximity as the gold museum, but just about a 10-minute walk heading south along the pedestrian street Carrera 7 is the city's "main plaza" Plaza de Bolivar (pretty spacious & really a wide-open plaza except for the statue of Simon Bolivar at the center, and with these "long & imposing" buildings on all four sides including the city's "main cathedral" Catedral Metropolitana along one side with a fairly ornate & decorative interior in not one but two parts of that big cathedral).
And nearby, actually right across the "big pedestrian street" Carrera 7 which is right beside this church on its east side (a "very lively" street hard to miss with plenty of outdoor vendors selling all kinds of stuff) is the big "gold museum" Museo del Oro (with really quite an impressive collection of both gold & non-gold objects displayed on about 3 floors which are actually "quite packed" with just numerous displays to go through); and also not as much in close proximity as the gold museum, but just about a 10-minute walk heading south along the pedestrian street Carrera 7 is the city's "main plaza" Plaza de Bolivar (pretty spacious & really a wide-open plaza except for the statue of Simon Bolivar at the center, and with these "long & imposing" buildings on all four sides including the city's "main cathedral" Catedral Metropolitana along one side with a fairly ornate & decorative interior in not one but two parts of that big cathedral).
Written June 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Iglesia de San Francisco
- Hotels near Iglesia de San Francisco:
- (0.02 mi) Walking distance to museums and tourist places - 2 Workspaces - Security 24/7
- (0.12 mi) Hotel Regina Bogota
- (0.23 mi) Hotel bh Bicentenario
- (0.13 mi) Hostal Casa Colibri
- (0.16 mi) Internacional Hostel
- Restaurants near Iglesia de San Francisco:
- (0.03 mi) Subway
- (0.09 mi) Restaurante Aracataca
- (0.09 mi) Cafe San Alberto Museo Del Oro
- (0.05 mi) Wiki Septimazo
- (0.05 mi) Cuban Jazz Cafe
Iglesia de San Francisco Information
Excellent Reviews | 443 |
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Very Good Reviews | 248 |
Iglesia de San Francisco Photos | 187 |