The Church of San Francisco is the most visually striking building in Salta's colonial centre — a tall, elaborately decorated 19th-century facade in vivid terracotta-red and white, with a bell tower that climbs to 53 metres. The current building dates from 1882, replacing earlier structures on the same site, but it was designed deliberately in a 17th-century colonial style that makes it feel older.
The interior is simpler than the facade suggests, with a long nave and side chapels. The bell tower can be climbed on request, offering views over the surrounding streets. The church is on Caseros, a few blocks from Plaza 9 de Julio, and is easy to combine with a walk to the San Bernardo Convent up the same street.