In Peru, they discovered the remains of a 17th century chapel under a square in Lima | During the restoration of the surroundings of another church

At Peru found the underground remains of a chapel 17th century of the Dominican order. The discovery took place during restoration work on an old square in the center of Lima.

The remains were found one meter deep, during excavations in the surroundings at the church of La Recoleta, as part of the restoration work on the temple facade carried out by the Recovery Program of the Historic Center of Lima (Prolima). The find was located under Plaza Francia, which is part of the architectural ensemble of this space in the process of being recovered.

Come out floor tile which adorned the walls and floors of the chapel, foundations of the original structure, in addition to the remains of porcelain and glazed ceramic the 17th and 18th centuries, bottles, inkwells and candlesticks, among other elements of the time.

A chapel built in 1606

“What we found are the remains of the old chapel of a Récollets convent built in 1606”, explained the director of Prolima, Luis Martín Bogdanovich.

The discovery took place as part of the work to recover the Historic Center and a few days after the bicentenary of independence, the mayor Jorge Muñoz presented to the city the archaeological remains of the old chapel of the gate of San Juan Macías .

Historical recovery

“This important discovery shows us the work that has been carried out for the recovery and enhancement of the historic center. It joins other archaeological discoveries and restorations of monuments that we have presented ”, explained Mayor Muñoz.

The old chapel was part of a spiritual retreat center built at the beginning of the 17th century by the Dominican Order, under the tutelage of Blessed Maria Magdalena. There lived San Juan Macías (1585-1645), a Spanish Dominican religious who participated in the evangelization of Peru from 1620 and canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975.

Years later, the chapel became part of the La Recoleta orphan’s hospice, run by the Lima charity. This is where an aid program began, which consisted of delivering milk to the most needy and which has its origins in France. This is the historical antecedent of the current Glass of Milk program, which various institutions are currently promoting as social support.