Templo de Santo Tomás la Palma

What it is. A parish church on Misioneros, in the La Merced quarter east of the Historic Centre: a working neighbourhood church rather than a monument, open through the day, with the market trade going on all around it.

One thing to be clear about. If you are looking for the Merced cloister —the famous Mudejar-arched courtyard of the former Mercedarian convent that appears in photographs of the area— that is a different building, on Uruguay, a few streets away. This is the parish of Santo Tomás la Palma, and the two are often confused in searches.

Practical notes. Open daily 07:00–19:00; entry is free. The La Merced area is intense: the market is one of the largest in the Americas and the streets around it are crowded and chaotic. Visit in daylight, carry little, keep your phone out of sight, and be aware that parts of the quarter immediately north of the market are best avoided. Merced station on metro Line 1 is at the door.