Huancavelica, situated between Huancayo and Ayacucho in the Cordillera de los Andes at over 3,500 metres, is an attractive old colonial town founded by Francisco de Toledo in the late 16th century. It still retains much of the original architecture in the form of old mansion houses and attractive churches including the Catedral de San Antonio which overlooks the Plaza de Armas at the heart of town and Iglesias Santo Domingo and San Francisco. On market days, especially Sundays, the indigenous peoples are particularly striking in their traditional dress and on festive occasions, such as Christmas, the customary scissor dance, or the danza tijera, is performed with swords. Not far from town are the Mina de la Muerte, some old mercury mines, which is open to visitors, and the soothing thermal waters of San Cristobal.