San Francisco Basilica

The San Francisco Basilica was projected by the architect Barbier in 1875. Its Renaissance design has a ground plant of 2,300 square meters, divided into three naves and one hall. It was planned with two towers and a central belfry which were destroyed by an earthquake in 1920.

It is the first temple built in the "new city" after the 1861 earthquake destroyed the foundational area where the Jesuit church known today as San Francisco Ruins was situated. The San Francisco Basilica was the former home of the image of “Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Cuyo” (Our Lady Carmen of Cuyo).

This basilica is in charge of guarding the image of “Nuestra Señora del Carmen de Cuyo”, Patron Saint and General of the Andes Liberator Army. She is also the carrier of General San Martín’s baton, which he gave to her after the success of his campaign in Chile in 1817.

The southern nave keeps the mortal rests of General San Martín's daughter, Mercedes Tomasa or “Mercedita" as Mendocineans fondly remember her.