Iglesia de San Pedro Claver (Saint Peter Claver Church), Cartagena (must see)

The Church of Saint Peter Claver, located in the square of the same name, forms part of a larger complex that also includes the Convent of Saint Peter Claver. The church was built between the early 17th century and 1654 and was originally dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola before eventually being dedicated to Saint Peter Claver.

The latter was a Jesuit priest and missionary who devoted much of his life to evangelising and ministering to enslaved Africans in New Granada. Born in Spain in 1580, Claver ministered at this church for many years and died in the adjacent convent in 1654. He was canonised in 1888.

The church is largely built in the Spanish colonial style, with the notable exception of its dome, which was replaced in 1921. Its architecture generally corresponds to the style commonly described as “Jesuit,” which became widespread throughout Latin America. Much of its monumental façade is made of stone brought from the nearby island of Tierrabomba. The large, ornate wooden doors at the front, however, deviate from the otherwise Baroque character of the façade.

In contrast to the Baroque decoration of the exterior, the church’s interior is distinguished by its relative simplicity. Look for the beautiful stained-glass windows behind the altar and above the main entrance. Beneath the main altar, made of marble imported from Italy, stands a glass coffin containing the remains of Saint Peter Claver. From here, you can admire both the coffin and the vibrant stained-glass window behind the altar.

Head into the south aisle and scan the church’s southern wall for the large wooden doors opening from the nave. Pass through one of them and you’ll find yourself in the quiet, colonnaded courtyard of the adjacent convent. The three-storey building now houses a museum dedicated to Saint Peter Claver, Colombia’s Indigenous peoples and the history of the site. In addition to numerous artefacts, visitors can see the modest room in which Saint Peter Claver lived and died.

Don’t miss the whimsical metal sculptures in the square outside the church. Created by Colombian artist Edgardo Carmona, they depict ordinary people at work and play. A little farther south stands a bronze sculpture by Enrique Grau, depicting Saint Peter Claver with an enslaved African.