The Monastery of Santa Catalina from Siena is an unmissable visit in Arequipa, a city located in southern Peru also known as "The White City" due to the color of the volcanic stone with which the main buildings of the historic center are built. The convent was built using the sillar of the Misti and Chachani volcanoes, located at the foot of Arequipa.
The religious building was opened on September 10, 1579 by Doña MarÃa de Guzmán, a wealthy widow. It is an architectural complex often referred to as a citadel within Arequipa, occupying approximately 20,000 square meters and surrounded by high walls that isolate it from city life.
The Santa Catalina Monastery represents an excellent fusion between the aSpanish influence and local traditions, generating a unique style. Walking through the silent alleys, the kiosks, the lively colored walls, the numerous paintings and works of art of this Unesco Cultural Heritage of Humanity, you will feel a unique mystical atmosphere.
