Andahuaylillas – The hidden treasures – Sistine Chapel of Peru

This small town Andahuaylillas is located about 40 km from Cuzco on the route to Puno. Depending on the season and weather, the journey by car from Cusco takes about 50 minutes. The town is dominated by San Pedro Apóstol Church, also known in the area as the Sistine Chapel of America. It has a fairly simple appearance in the outdoor area and was built around 1580. however, as soon as you enter the interior you will be astonished by the baroque interior with its gilded altars, walls, pictures and ceilings. The Chapel, with its inconspicuous and rather village-like character of the town Andahuaylillas, is one of the most precious jewels of colonial art in Peru, which deserves to be called “Capilla Sixtina del Peru”.

The design and the innards of the church is a church space flooded with Baroque works of art, which shines with huge amounts of decorations. The church was built in Spanish tradition, and resembles an Inca temple. The extensive paintings come from the hands of Escuela Cusqueña. The altars and very extensive wood carvings are wonderful unique pieces, which were wrapped in gold leaf. The church was completely renovated by the World Monuments Found in 2012.