The Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena, built in 1579, is one of the most iconic landmarks of Arequipa, Peru, located in the heart of its historic center. For centuries, it served as a cloister for Dominican nuns—from the 16th to the 18th century—and today it still houses a small religious community.
Spanning nearly 20,000 square meters, the monastery is constructed from volcanic stone and organized into cloisters, living quarters, squares, galleries, and chapels. Within its walls are remarkable works of art, including a baroque carved and gilded wooden altarpiece that adorns the chapel, and numerous paintings from the Cusco School of Art, one of the most significant artistic traditions of colonial Peru.
The monastery’s interior is a labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets, vividly painted walls in striking shades of blue, red, and ochre, and flower-filled courtyards. These small alleys lead visitors through picturesque spaces, from the nuns’ cells—still preserved with original furnishings—to historic communal areas.
Among its highlights are the 17th-century church and the monastery’s art gallery, which displays around 400 colonial artworks. The Monastery of Santa Catalina is often described as a “city within a city”, offering a unique blend of spirituality, history, and colonial art, and remains one of Arequipa’s most treasured cultural and architectural gems.
