San Francisco Colonial Church Mountain

About

The San Francisco Colonial Church Mountain was built in 1727, doubling as a place of worship and a lookout where the Spanish could keep an eye on the natives and slaves. The seemingly humble stone church is unusual in the Americas - rather than having its main altar brought over from Europe, this one was carved by local indigenous craftsmen. Look closely at the main altar and 8 side altars and you’ll find the faces of the artisans and important indigenous people, as well as special local symbolism mixed among the cherubs, angels, and other religious imagery.