Monasterio de Santa Catalina - Historical Building Arequipa - Peru

Like a city within a city, the astounding Monasterio de Santa Catalina is probably one of Arequipa's best architectural sites. With architecture reminiscent of Andalusian Spain, the convent contains a hundred houses, 60 streets, a main square, church and cemetery. The art gallery houses more than 400 paintings from the Cusqueña School. Until 1970, when it was opened to the public, this place was shrouded in mystery. During the 17th and 18th centuries, hundreds of nuns lived here, in addition to the daughters of wealthy families. The nuns who currently call this place home have the pleasure of living in modern quarters, complete with fully equipped kitchens. Some of the convent’s highlights include the Orange Tree Cloister, with painted arches; Calle Toledo, an expansive boulevard that ends in a communal lavandería, where the nuns wash their clothes; and the rooms of Sor Ana, a 17th century nun who the Vatican is eager to canonize.

Location:

Calle Santa Catalina 301

Historical Building Types:
Churches, Colonial architecture, Monastery, Monastery and museum, Churches and religious buildings, Historic architecture

Travel Tips: Mass is held in the complex's church daily at 7:30 a.m.

You don’t need guide, though there are guides available who speak Spanish, English, German, French, Italian or Portuguese ($7.50). Self-guiding pamphlets are available in Spanish, English, German and other languages.

Price Description:

Adult $13; students (to 15 years old): foreign $5.60, Peruvian $2; Peruvian university student $3.70, Peruvian third ager $5.60

Relative price: High End

Open Hours from:Daily 9 a.m.

Open Hours to:Daily 5 p.m.

Travel Skills: None

Currencies accepted
Peruvian nuevo sol

Contact Information:
Phone: 608-282 / 608-283
Fax: 281-335
E-mail: informes(at)remove-this.santacatalina.org.pe
URL: www.santacatalina.org.pe