Getty to help stabilize 17th century church in the Peruvian Andes

The Peruvian government and the Getty Conservation Institute will begin a five year project to conserve the Church of Santo Tomás de Aquino in the Cusco region of Peru.

The project, which starts in 2027, aims to stabilize the 340 square meter building against earthquakes and preserve a collection of 330 historical objects. The Getty Conservation Institute will provide structural design and advanced conservation techniques while the Peruvian government provides the 5 million dollars needed for the work.

Because the church sits 3,400 meters above sea level in a seismic zone, the team will use local materials to reinforce the thick adobe walls and wooden truss roof. One painting by the Italian artist Bernardo Bitti will travel to Los Angeles for scientific analysis and conservation. The project includes a community involvement component where local residents will learn how to maintain the site.

The Getty Conservation Institute previously conducted a similar project in the nearby town of Kuñotambo, where they provided a maintenance manual in Quechua, an Indigenous language. These efforts aim to protect the church as a site of spiritual and cultural heritage for the local population.