To discover the Santa Catalina Monastery, we must go back to the early years of the Viceroyalty of Peru, when Arequipa was beginning to establish itself as one of the most important colonial cities in the southern Andes. Founded on 10 September 1579, this vast religious complex was built using sillar, the volcanic stone that characterises Arequipa, the famous “White City”.
For centuries, the monastery served as a cloistered space for nuns belonging to wealthy Spanish and Creole families. Behind its towering walls, a small colonial town developed, complete with streets, courtyards, cloisters, and old dwellings that still preserve much of their original architecture. Today, the Santa Catalina Monastery is regarded as one of the most important and most visited colonial complexes in Arequipa.
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History of the Santa Catalina Monastery
To understand the history of the Santa Catalina Monastery, we must return to the early colonial years in Arequipa. Founded in 1540, the city quickly became one of the most important centres of the Viceroyalty of Peru thanks to trade and its strategic location in the southern Andes.
In this context, the Santa Catalina Monastery was founded on 10 September 1579 through the initiative of María de Guzmán, an Arequipa widow of Spanish descent who devoted much of her fortune to the creation of the convent. From the very beginning, the complex was reserved mainly for women from wealthy Spanish and Creole families, who were required to provide a considerable dowry in order to enter.
For centuries, the nuns lived in a space that was almost entirely isolated from the rest of the city. Inside, a small organised community developed, with streets, courtyards, kitchens, laundries, and cloisters functioning as a true religious citadel within Arequipa.
The monastery covers nearly 20,000 square metres and was built mainly from sillar, the white volcanic stone that is characteristic of the city. Despite earthquakes and the various renovations carried out over time, much of its original structure has been preserved.
It was not until 1970 that an important section of the monastery was opened to the public. Since then, the site has become one of Arequipa’s main historical attractions, renowned for its colourful streets, peaceful cloisters, and colonial architecture. Within the monastery, visitors can still explore spaces that reveal what daily life was like for the nuns during the colonial period.
What to see inside the Monastery
The Santa Catalina Monastery, considered one of the most important religious sites in Latin America, houses colonial structures, works of art, and former convent spaces that reflect the cultural and historical importance of the complex since the arrival of the first nuns. Among the monastery’s most representative places are:
The Cloister of the Orange Trees
The Cloister of the Orange Trees is one of the oldest and most iconic spaces within the Santa Catalina Monastery. Since colonial times, this courtyard was used as a place of reflection and passage for the nuns living in the convent.
The cloister stands out for its sillar arches, its interior gardens, and the orange trees that gave the space its name. Its design reflects the influence of Spanish convents adapted to Arequipa’s architecture, where open spaces helped keep the monastery interiors cool.
Unlike other busier areas, this section preserves a peaceful atmosphere that allows visitors to imagine what daily life was like for the nuns during the Viceroyalty of Peru. Its richly coloured walls and the combination of vegetation and colonial architecture have also made it one of the most photographed spots within the complex.
Very close to this cloister is another of the monastery’s best-known spaces: Zocodover Square.
Zocodover Square
Zocodover Square was one of the main gathering places within the Santa Catalina Monastery. During the colonial period, this area functioned as a small internal square where the nuns would walk and carry out part of their daily life.
Its name comes from ancient Spanish squares dedicated to trade and public life, an influence that arrived in the Americas alongside colonial architecture and customs. Within the monastery, this space eventually became one of the most representative points of the religious citadel.
Today, Zocodover Square stands out for its narrow streets, intensely coloured walls, and details built from sillar. The blue and reddish tones contrast beautifully with the volcanic stone, creating one of the monastery’s most visited and photographed settings.
The cells and former living quarters
The former cells of the Santa Catalina Monastery offer a fascinating insight into what daily life was like for the nuns during the colonial period. Some rooms were simple and austere, intended for prayer and quiet reflection. Others, belonging to nuns from wealthy families in Arequipa, included private kitchens, furniture, and larger living spaces.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, many young women entered the convent accompanied by servants and bringing substantial dowries, a common practice among families of the colonial elite. These social differences were also reflected in the layout and size of the rooms.
Today, several of these cells still preserve original furniture, utensils, and objects that reveal the customs and internal organisation of the monastery.
Works of art and historic spaces
Inside the monastery, important collections of colonial paintings, religious sculptures, and objects connected to convent life have been preserved. Many of these works belong to the Escuela Cusqueña, one of the most representative artistic movements of the Viceroyalty of Peru, known for blending European techniques with Andean elements.
The tours offered by the monastery allow visitors to explore spaces that were essential to the daily life of the nuns. Among the highlights are the old kitchens, the stone laundries, and the communal courtyards that served as gathering places within the convent.
Why visit the Santa Catalina Monastery?
The Santa Catalina Monastery is considered one of the most important colonial religious complexes in South America. For centuries, it functioned as a small independent city enclosed within high sillar stone walls, where the nuns lived their lives separated from the outside world. The monastery is also renowned for its colonial architecture and the combination of Spanish influences with traditional elements from Arequipa. Its narrow streets, courtyards, cloisters, and passageways preserve much of their original structure from the colonial era. The use of volcanic sillar, characteristic of Arequipa, together with the intense reddish and blue tones of its walls, has made the complex one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
Throughout the complex, visitors can see stone fountains, old wooden doors, laundries, kitchens, and communal spaces that offer a glimpse into how daily life functioned within the convent. The monastery also preserves important collections of religious art and paintings linked to the Escuela Cusqueña, one of the most influential artistic movements of the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Since 1970, a significant part of the complex has been opened to tourism and has welcomed visitors from around the world. Today, the monastery forms part of one of the most important cultural routes in the historic centre of Arequipa, which was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2000.
Opening hours, tickets and recommendations
The Santa Catalina Monastery is open every day of the year and welcomes thousands of visitors interested in exploring one of Peru’s most important colonial complexes. Opening hours generally begin in the morning and continue into the evening, although they may vary on public holidays or during religious celebrations. For this reason, it is recommended to check the latest information before your visit.
Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office located at the monastery’s main entrance. There are different rates for adults, students, and Peruvian visitors. In addition, many travellers choose to join guided tours or free walking tours to better understand the history of the convent, its architecture, and the daily life of the nuns during the colonial period. Some cultural tours of Arequipa also include entrance to the monastery as part of their itinerary.
Due to the size of the complex, it is advisable to allow plenty of time for the visit. The monastery features internal streets, cloisters, courtyards, galleries, and former communal areas that are best appreciated at a relaxed pace.
The early morning hours and late afternoon are usually the best times to visit the monastery. At these times, the natural light beautifully highlights the colours of the sillar stone and allows visitors to explore the streets with fewer crowds.
How to get to the Santa Catalina Monastery from Arequipa City Centre
The Santa Catalina Monastery is located in the heart of Arequipa’s Historic Centre, just a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas. Thanks to its central location, one of the most convenient ways to get there is on foot from the main square. The walk takes between 5 and 10 minutes and passes through some of the city’s most traditional streets, lined with colonial mansions, cafés, and buildings constructed from sillar stone.
If you are arriving from the Arequipa Bus Terminal, you can take a taxi or use a ride-hailing app following routes such as Andrés Avelino Cáceres Avenue, Independencia Avenue, and Santa Catalina Street. The journey usually takes between 15 and 25 minutes, depending on traffic. From Rodríguez Ballón International Airport, the journey normally takes between 25 and 35 minutes, travelling along avenues such as Aviación, Ejército, and Puente Grau before entering the historic centre.
Many visitors also reach the monastery through free tours or private tours around Arequipa’s historic centre. These tours often include places such as the Plaza de Armas, Arequipa Cathedral, and former colonial mansions before finishing at the convent. Due to the large number of tourists and activities in Arequipa, the early morning hours and late afternoon are usually the best times to explore the monastery in a more peaceful atmosphere.
Is the Santa Catalina Monastery worth visiting?
The answer is yes. The Santa Catalina Monastery is one of the most important colonial sites in Arequipa and one of the best-preserved convents in Latin America. Since its foundation, this religious complex has preserved much of its original structure and offers a fascinating insight into convent life during the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Unlike many other historic sites, the visit here takes place through internal streets, courtyards, cloisters, and former rooms that once functioned as a small city within Arequipa. Many of its buildings still retain sillar stone walls, colonial kitchens, stone fountains, and objects used by the nuns several centuries ago.
Another of its main attractions is its architecture. The monastery combines Spanish influences with traditional Arequipa elements, especially the reddish and blue tones that characterise several sections of the complex. Spaces such as Zocodover Square, the Cloister of the Orange Trees, and the former cells have become some of the most photographed places in the city.
In addition to its historical value, the monastery is located just a few minutes from Arequipa’s Plaza de Armas, making it easy to combine the visit with other attractions in the historic centre, traditional restaurants, and guided tours around the White City. Today, it welcomes thousands of visitors each year and forms part of the main cultural tourist routes in southern Peru.
