BASÍLICA DE LA MERCED

Located around the park of the same name, this Romanesque basilica dates from the 19th century. It houses relics of saints and of the Virgin Mary that are rather well preserved. The altar is gilded with fine gold and is worth a photo, as it shines brightly in the sunlight that penetrates to it. The basilica also houses a fine collection of paintings tracing the various stages of reconstruction of the city which was hit twice by major earthquakes, first in 1868 and more recently in 1987.