Temple Dome and Nave
When visiting Arequipa, it was hard not to notice the massive, walled city within the city just a few short blocks from the Plaza de Armas. This city is actually a convent, Monasterio de Santa Catalina, one of my Five Hidden Secrets of South America article I wrote for BootsnAll.
Though it was a bit expensive and we contemplated not visiting to save a few buck on the old budget, we are quite pleased that we didn’t let our cheapness win out, as this was the first true highlight of Arequipa. For anyone visiting Arequipa, I urge you to visit this convent rich with history and intrigue.
It was nice having empty streets to explore
Monasterio de Santa Catalina is a convent over 400 years old set right in the center of Arequipa, the second biggest city in Peru. It is open 7 days a week, but it closes by 5pm, except for Tuesdays and Thursdays when it stays open until 9pm. We decided to see it at night, and we got lucky because there was a concert going on in one of the rooms inside, and it only cost us a third of what it normally does. Because of the concert, the rest of the convent was virtually empty, so we got to explore as if we were the only ones around, which added to the mystique of the whole place.
Shortly after walking in, we knew we were in for a treat. This place was not just any convent. The Santa Catalina de Siena Convent was founded in 1579. The unique thing about it, though, is that no one besides the nuns who lived there saw the inside of this city within a city until 1970. Ever since it was built in the 16th century, many women entered the convent to serve as cloistered nuns and live in total seclusion to the outside world.
A "cell" within the convent
Like the majority of the city of Arequipa (which sits at the bottom of El Misti Volcano), the convent was constructed from Sillar, a white volcanic stone quarried locally. Because this part of the country has been hit by earthquakes throughout its history, the structure of the convent is particularly unique. The nuns constructed private cells within the convent where they could be isolated in prayer. The huge walls surrounding the entire convent sheltered them from the rest of the city. Inside these walls lie narrow streets and maze-like bedrooms, cells (very small rooms for prayer), kitchens, dining rooms, courtyards, cemeteries, and chapels.
We were lucky enough to go at night and see this without many other tourists around. We got to wander in and out of the streets, tiny doorways, and rooms while snapping photos and standing in awe. After the convent sustained damage from earthquakes in 1958 and 1960, it was restored and opened to the public on August 15, 1970, the 430th anniversary of the city’s founding. During this restoration period about 400 pieces of original religious paintings were found and professionally restored by art experts.
Sister Ana's Cell with restored artwork
I would imagine that the experience would be a little different during the day or a night when a concert is not going on and the crowds are thick. No matter when you’re able to go, Monasterio de Santa Catalina is a magical place with a unique past and endless photo opportunities. If you’re going to be in Arequipa, don’t miss this wonderful site.
