Current Watch Site

Nestled in the hazy lowlands of the Marcapata Valley, the church of San Francisco de Asis dates to the late 16th or early 17th century and exemplifies the Andean baroque architecture that emerged from the intersection of Spanish and local culture. The rubble stone masonry is finished with an earthen render and capped with a thatch roof. The church has been maintained and repaired by the community in the traditional ceremony of Repaje.

The new Interoceanic Highway connecting ports in Peru and Brazil passes through Marcapata, creating development pressures and changes in the life and landscape of the town. The church has suffered damage due to the passage of time and lack of resources, and the transmission of the Repaje skills from generation to generation is threatened by the changing community dynamic. Training and awareness efforts are needed to renew heritage connections in the community and promote development that is sustainable and sympathetic to the historic fabric of the town. As a symbol of collective stewardship, the church of San Francisco de Asis is proposed as a vehicle for such activities.