The Cathedral Basilica of Potosí faces the Plaza 10 de Noviembre, the main square of the city, and anchors the colonial urban core alongside the Casa de la Moneda. The current building dates largely from the late 18th century, with a facade that combines baroque decoration with neoclassical restraint — a contrast to the exuberant mestizo baroque of the smaller churches nearby.
The interior contains a significant collection of colonial religious paintings and polychrome wood carvings, and the high altar is an elaborate gilded piece that survived the various political upheavals of the 19th century. The cathedral is still in active use as the seat of the Diocese of Potosí, so visiting hours are limited to non-service times. The plaza in front of it is the social centre of the city, ringed by colonial arcaded buildings that now house shops and restaurants.