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The Monumental Complex Bethlehem is an eighteenth century architectural complex in Cajamarca. This renowned complex comprises of a church, the Hospital of Men of century XVIII, today a Medical Museum and the Hospital of Women, today an Ethnographic, Religious and Archaeological Museum. This hospital was named “Hospital de Nuestra Señora de la Piedad” (Our Lady of Mercy Hospital). The Monumental Complex Bethlehem is also known as the Bethlehem Complex and remains open for visitors from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays the visiting hours for general public is from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Baroque church at The Monumental Complex Bethlehem in Cajamarca is one of the main highlights of this complex and is characterized by a carefully carved stone entrance, unfinished towers, arcades, and buttressed sides. It is one of the finest instances of baroque Spanish architecture in Peru, and is the finest church in Cajamarca. The interior of this church has an interesting baroque cupola of painted stone. It is one of the most popular historical sites in the city of Cajamarca that brings together elements of a magnificent Colonial architecture, beautiful countryside ambience and rich historical legacy as this complex has been a witness of many turbulent times that this city has gone through.
The old Bethlemite hospital of Our Lady of Mercy was built in the 18th century and organized into two major sectors: the Men's Hospital and the Women's Hospital. Though today these two stand separated by a street, the street was originally a part of the complex itself. The Monumental Complex Bethlehem in Cajamarca also houses an Art Gallery that features works by some famous local artists and an Ethnographical Museum which displays a collection of typical dresses, agricultural and musical instruments, and some other handcrafted items.
The "Museo Etnografico y de Arquelogia" i.e. the Ethnographic and Archaeological Museum situated in the old Hospital of Women and the Medical Museum situated in the old Hospital of Males, both located inside Cajamarca’s Monumental Complex Bethlehem open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m. for public viewing.
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