At a first glance, the Church of San Pedro Apóstol de Andahuaylillas, located in the town of Andahuaylas (Cusco), doesn’t particularly stand out. Its simple, Renaissance-style exterior features a stone atrium that doesn’t immediately draw attention. However, behind its doors lies a church that is known around the world for its interior decoration, which shows influences from European and Andean art, becoming one of the greatest examples of the Andean Baroque. Upon entering, one is greeted by an explosion of color, with gold plating that gives it a constant shine and paintings depicting biblical characters and scenes. The church lives up to its reputation, as it is also known as the «Sistine Chapel of the Americas.»
Built in the late 16th century, it was designed as a temple dedicated to conversion. Priest Juan Perez had the idea that the divine beauty seen in the church’s artworks could be a more effective way to evangelize the Andean people than simply frightening them, as most missionaries did. Thus, this beautiful structure began to take shape, gaining the power to fascinate and move people.
That same fascination comes from its vivid appearance: a high wooden ceiling covered in gold leaf, decorated with floral designs and geometric figures. If you look up, you can see a dazzling, warm, golden artificial sky. This is just the beginning. On the walls, you can see monumental murals, mostly by Luis de Riaño. One of them, probably the most famous, shows two paths: on the right, the complicated road to heaven, difficult to reach but with great rewards; on the left, you can see the road to hell, the easy route taken by many. All of this is narrated visually, with the purpose of educating even the illiterate.
The chapel’s main altarpiece is carved from cedar wood and finished in gold leaf. In the upper center is the Coronation of the Virgin, with Our Lady of the Rosary, and below is a tabernacle covered in silver sheets. Finally, to the left of the Virgin, we find the image of Saint Paul, accompanied by Saint Peter.