Get a panoramic view over the city centre, sample a tropicalfruit from a street vendor and witness a political demonstration at Plaza SanFrancisco. This main square is one of the city’s most popular meeting places,attracting street musicians and La Paz’s sizeable indigenous population.
Sit on the steps on the north side of the plaza and watchpeople pass through the square. Magicians, comedians and other streetperformers vie for the attention of passers-by. Notice the Aymara people whomeet here to sit and chat around the square. They tend to wear traditionalclothes, like bowler hats and regional shawls. Plaza San Francisco sits wherethe colonial portion of the city once intersected with the Aymaraneighbourhoods.
Climb up into the impressive bell tower of the San FranciscoChurch to look out over the square. The church is one of La Paz’s mostimpressive buildings, a hybrid of baroque and mestizo styles. Discover thedelicate reliefs carved into the church’s façade, which depict naturallandscapes and fantastical creatures. Drop by the Museo San Francisco in thechurch’s convent. Here, you will find religious art and artifacts fromthroughout La Paz’s steeped history.
Browse the nearby Lanza Market for one of the besttraditional Bolivian meals in town. Make sandwiches out of locally made cheese andfreshly baked bread. For dessert, try a refreshing tropical fruit. Also, makesure to sample a salteña, which is a baked pastry stuffed with vegetables andmeat. Food vendors can be found on the Plaza San Francisco as well.
Keep a safe distance from the political demonstrations thatoften take place on the square. Workers, teachers and political groups commonlyhold high-profile strikes on Plaza San Francisco due to its central locationand wide-open space. Street parades happen here as well, which you should feelfree to join.
Arrive at Plaza San Francisco via shared mini bus fromanywhere in the city. The Witches’ Market and the Museo de la Coca lie within ashort walk of the square.
