San Pedro de Andahuaylillas (Sistine Chapel of the Americas)

Walk inside San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, set in the central square of a tiny Andean village near Cusco, and you’ll quickly understand why the church got the nickname “The Sistine Chapel of the Americas.” The Baroque church, built during the late sixteenth century, appears whitewashed and rather banal from the outside, but the lavish embellishments found within — carvings, paintings, murals and an impressive gold-leaf alter — are what make the church so famous.
When Spanish missionaries were cementing their hold in this Incan region, they often used murals as a way to overcome the language barrier to evangelize the local population. The colorful murals packed into the small San Pedro de Andahuaylillas depict numerous biblical scenes, including a vivid take on the Last Judgement, imbued with Incan symbolism.

Practical Info

San Pedro de Andahuaylillas is located in the village of Andahuaylillas, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Cusco.