Trip Planner: South America / Peru / Arequipa Region / Arequipa / Santa Catalina Monastery

Santa Catalina Monastery, Arequipa

4.7

Must see · Specialty Museum · Museum

Santa Catalina Monastery remains one of the most original architectural pieces of the Peruvian viceroyal period. Founded in 1579, it belongs to the Dominica order and currently houses cloistered nuns in a reserved area. Considered a large-scale monument, it has three cloisters, multiple streets and passages, around eighty houses that were occupied by nuns, one main square, and an art gallery that displays a valuable collection of paintings, most of them from the colonial Cusco school of art. Completely built of a white volcanic material called "sillar," it is one of the most important tourist attractions in the city of Arequipa and attracts visitors from all over the world. A visit to Santa Catalina Monastery represents just the start of the adventure when you use our Arequipa holiday maker website to plot your vacation.

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Tours to Santa Catalina Monastery

FROM $47 BOOK WITH VIATOR Arequipa, Historic and Colonial City and Santa Catalina Monastery

4.2

Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes

Tours from $47 »

FROM $230 BOOK WITH VIATOR City Tour Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Arequipa, 4 Days

5.0

Duration: 4 days

Tours from $230 »

FROM $100 BOOK WITH VIATOR Private Guided City Tour Arequipa

2.0

Duration: 6 hours

Tours from $100 »

Santa Catalina Monastery reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

7,504 reviews

By mvzegarra

Excellent place to learn some history, highly recommender a tour guide since they are many facts you wouldn’t know about. Remember to take your camera and your walking shoes!! more »
By Eliza-Beth-travles

Be transported back in time as you freely explore this old monastery! I skipped the tour as I had limited time, but I enjoyed the liberty of walking around the vast property. I spent about an hour... more »
By Nelly P

The monastery is like a city inside the city. You can get lost within the colorful painted walls of the complex and take amazing pictures without other tourists in them. more »

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