Among the ruins of the ghost town, the church is a testimony to the faith and devotion of the miners who once lived here.
The main church of San Antonio del Nuevo Mundo has lost all its decorations and riches, but its monumental skeleton continues to impress visitors.
The church's gigantic husk dominates the centre of the ghost town of San Antonio del Nuevo Mundo, once one of the main mining towns in what is now the department of Potosí.
According to the accounts of the settlers, the church was built under the supervision of the Spaniards, who founded the city in the 17th century, with the help of a native Indian work force. Being the largest church in the area, it was dedicated to the patron saint of the community, St. Anthony of Padua.
According to the local chronicles, the construction of the church lasted about ten years. The importance of the building is obvious from its position, in the middle of the town, on what was undoubtedly its main square. Only the walls of the building remain, its thatched pitched roof has long since disappeared.
From the square, a short flight of steps beneath its bare façade leads inside, where the roof consists of the Andean sky. The wide nave and various service rooms are all that remain.
The inhabitants notice between the walls, in which there are small sections of cereal flour such as wheat, amaranth and barley, the peculiar characteristics of the ancient architecture of the church: these materials, in fact, were used as mortar for the blocks of stone. This detail gave rise to the legend of the fabulous riches from the exploitation of the mines, although it is most likely that these cereals were used for their symbolic and religious meaning.
Visiting the ruins of this church and walking through its thick walls, built with gigantic stones, gives us an idea of what the colonial era and the Spanish dominion in these remote lands was like. And there are people who say that this church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua was not the only one in the city but that there were twenty others in the town.
Do you want to learn about the fascinating history of the ghost town of San Antonio de Lípez? Contact us and we'll give you all the information you need to make the most of this incredible experience.
Services
- Local guides available in Spanish
Additional Info
We recommend warm and windproof clothing, comfortable hiking shoes, cap, hat, sunglasses and a camera.
Where
San Antonio de Lípez, municipality of San Pablo de Lípez, department of Potosí.
Transportation
By private transport
From Uyuni or from Tupiza you can reach the communities of San Cristobal by road; the duration of the trip is 2 hours. From there a road leads to San Antonio de Lípez (the duration of the trip is about 2 more hours). You can access the location by walking through the town of San Antonio de Nuevo Mundo in about 30 minutes.
By public transport
There is no public transportation available.
Visiting Rules
For your own health and that of the local population, remember to respect all biosecurity protocols and codes of conduct before and during your stay: bring a mask and hand sanitizer, as well as a first aid kit, with sunscreen and medication for altitude sickness.
During your visit, remember to protect the region's cultural and natural heritage.