Monday, 30 September 2024
The Monasterio de Santa Catalina de Siena is undoubtedly the premier must-see in Arequipa. (Confusingly, a “Monasterio” houses nuns, while a “Convent” is for monks. How did English and Spanish come to opposite usages?)The walled enclosure of about 10 acres in the heart of old Arequipa is worth the visit. While hugely diminished from its heyday in the 19th Century (150 nuns with 300 servants!), it now houses about 20 nuns in a closed-to-the-public section.
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| The start of our maze-like walk through the Monasterio. I was totally lost wandering through the streets and cells (rooms), but our guide knew the site in depth. |
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| Novice’s Cloister |
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| This well-off nun’s cell had a private kitchen. |
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| The main kitchen. The walls were covered in soot from the fires. |
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| A harp in the music classroom. Some nuns earned money by giving music lessons. |
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| Calle Sevilla |
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| The laundry (lavanderia). The main flow of water could be diverted to individual wash basins. In addition to the residents needs, laundry was another source of funds for the Monasterio. |
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| The pastry kitchen. |
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