Square & Landmark

Torre de la Compañía

📍 Torre de la Compañía, Potosí, Bolivia

1 photos

4.2/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Quick Facts

Location: Bolivia, Potosí
Category: Square & Landmark
Duration: 30 minutes
Ticket Price: If climbing is allowed, a small fee usually applies — pay on site.
Address: Torre de la Compañía, Potosí, Bolivia
Coordinates: -19.5867, -65.7553

Introduction

The Torre de la Compañía rises beside Potosí's main plaza — a freestanding bell tower of about six stories, built around 1708 for the Jesuit church of San Martín. Fashioned from rosy stone with stacked arched openings and capped by a small dome, it is a superb specimen of Andean mestizo baroque applied to the tower form, and arguably the most photographed facade in Potosí. The city's UNESCO-listed historic core leans on this tower as its visual anchor. Those who climb it are rewarded with views over the plaza toward Cerro Rico.

✨ Highlights

Freestanding

An 18th-century bell tower built apart from its church — a rarity in the Andes.

Rosy Arcade

Pink stone and stacked arches carry rich mestizo baroque detail on every level.

Plaza Icon

Flanking the main square, it anchors Potosí's postcards and night views.

Summit View

The top overlooks the plaza's rooftops and the silhouette of Cerro Rico at dusk.

🛈 Practical Info

→Location：Beside Plaza 10 de Noviembre, an easy walk from anywhere in the old center.

→Access：Interior opening hours vary; whether the tower is climbable depends on the day, but the exterior is always viewable.

→Photo Spot：The diagonal pavement across the plaza gives the classic full-tower composition.

→Time Needed：Allow 20-30 minutes for photos, or about an hour if you climb.

→Ticket Information：If climbing is allowed, a small fee usually applies — pay on site.

💡 Tips

• Late-afternoon warmth flatters the pink stone — the best hour for photographs.

• If the interior is open, the stairs are narrow and steep; carry your backpack in front.

• String the tower together with the cathedral and the Mint Museum around the plaza.

• The illuminated tower is worth a return after dinner for a night shot.

FAQ

How much is the admission for Torre de la Compañía?

If climbing is allowed, a small fee usually applies — pay on site.

Any practical tips for visiting Torre de la Compañía?

Late-afternoon warmth flatters the pink stone — the best hour for photographs. If the interior is open, the stairs are narrow and steep; carry your backpack in front.