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Peru Tourist Guide
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SOUTHERN PERU:
Arequipa, the "White City":
Santa Catalina
Museum Santuarios Andinos
Colca Canyon
Monastery Santa Catalina
Covering a square city block, the Santa Catalina 'Monastery' began, in the 16th century,
as a convent for the daughters of rich families. At one time, there were over 450 nuns
living in it, and in the early days the nuns all had their own servants and held regular
parties, enjoying English carpets, silk curtains, porcelain plates, damask tablecloths,
silver cutlery, and lace sheets, until a crackdown brought a more severe lifestyle.
The convent is a city in itself, with streets, gardens, and pools inside. The nuns were
hidden from view by curtains or other barriers during visits by family or friends, but
life there was not likely too grim, as the courtyards and private areas look relatively
comfy and spacious.
There are still a few nuns living here, but they're quartered in a smaller area now, away
from the main sections visited daily.
The convent wasn't opened to the public until 1970, after 400 years behind silent walls.
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