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Within
Santa Catalina, the rustle of the long habits of the nuns
seems to be impregnated into the walls. The alleys that run
through the monastery -a city within a city- reveal its past,
trapped between the sillar stone blocks and colonial oil paintings,
between the high vaults and granite plazas. Located in the
center of Arequipa, Santa Catalina is the pride of its townspeople,
covering an area of more than 29,426 square meters. It is
a masterpiece of colonial architecture, and houses some of
the finest examples of Spanish American religious art.
Founded in 1580 under the rule of Viceroy Toledo, the Private
Monastery of Nuns of the Order of Santa Catalina of Sena was
opened to the world nearly 400 years later, in 1970. Since
then, visitors have been able to stroll through the streets
and cloisters that during colonial times were the refuge of
female nobility who had decided to shut themselves away from
the world and dedicate themselves entirely to prayer. Possibly
because of their aristocratic background and the wealth of
their families, the convent was decorated with valuable works
painted by the Quito and Cuzco Schools, including many others
signed by grand masters from Italy and Spain, while special
attention was paid to the finishings of the buildings.
The main square, whose gates still preserve the magic of their
fine finishings and images carved from wood, features a fountain
brought from Spain and crafted entirely from granite. The
ochre and blue colors of its streets and patios -named after
Spanish cities- are decorated with bright flowers such as
scarlet geraniums.
Today, it takes around an hour to tour Santa Catalina, an
hour to discover centuries of tradition. |
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