Andahuaylillas is famous for the church of Saint Peter the Apostle, dubbed the “Sistine Chapelle of the Americas.” Inside, every wall and inch of ceiling is covered with frescoes, gold leaf and gold-framed 16th century paintings. It is prohibited to take photos or videos inside, even without flash, unless you attend an event like the Good Wednesday concert below.

The church was built to impress Andeans as part of evangelizing them. In Incan culture, gold was religiously symbolic, as it glowed like the sun, but it had no monetarily value. Covering the walls and ceiling with gold would have made a powerful impression on the people that the Spanish were trying to convert. It still does.