Whispers of secrets echo through these ancient walls. We are standing before the Santa Catalina Monastery. This isn’t just a monastery. It is a city within Arequipa. A hidden world frozen in time.
Founded in 1579, the Santa Catalina Monastery began with a rich widow. Maria de Guzman funded its construction. She then chose to live within its walls. The monastery became a refuge for upper-class women. They entered a life of service to the church. These women paid a dowry to join. Some paid the equivalent of 150000 US dollars.
Imagine this place centuries ago. It housed nuns and servants. Around 450 people lived within these walls. Today, only about 20 nuns reside in the northern corner. The Santa Catalina Monastery is over 20000 square meters. Much of it is now open to the public.
In 1871, Pope Pius IX sent Sister Josefa Cadena to reform the monastery. She was a strict Dominican nun. Sister Josefa sent rich dowries back to Europe. She freed slaves and allowed them to leave. The monastery was struck by earthquakes in the 1960s. Newer accommodations were built. Damaged areas were restored and opened to the public.
Let’s talk about Ana de los Angeles Monteagudo. She was brought to the monastery as a child. Ana dedicated her life to prayer. People believed she could predict fates. Many claimed healing by touching her belongings.
Before 1970, the Santa Catalina Monastery was a secret. It was shut off from the world. After earthquakes, Arequipa restored the building. They negotiated with the nuns to open it. The nuns set privacy boundaries. They also arranged to earn a profit.
The walls of the Santa Catalina Monastery are made of sillar. It is a white volcanic rock. The complex blends into Arequipa. Inside are parks, streets, houses, and fountains. There is even a cemetery.
Step inside the Novice Cloister. Nuns here swore a vow of silence. They dedicated their lives to prayer. Families paid 100 gold coins per year for novices. After four years, the novice could choose to leave or commit fully. Leaving brought shame upon the family.
The Orange Cloister is next. It is named for its orange trees. Here lies the Profundis Room. It is a room where deceased nuns are mourned. Portraits of these nuns line the walls. As you leave, you would find cells used as living quarters.
The Great Cloister is bordered by a chapel and an art gallery. The gallery once served as a dormitory. It is shaped like a cross. Murals of Jesus and The Virgin Mary adorn the walls. The art gallery displays approximately 400 colonial art pieces.
The Santa Catalina Monastery has a unique laundry area. It was built in 1770. Arequipa was supplied with water through ditches back then. The laundry contains 20 half urns used as trays. Water flowed through a central channel.
Today the nuns still live a cloistered life. They attend mass in a separate room. Double wooden bars divide them from the public. Nuns bake bread to support the monastery. They sell it to the public through a revolving window.
The Santa Catalina Monastery stands as Peru’s most important religious monument. It is a colonial structure in Arequipa. The monastery is now a window into a hidden world. It has evolved yet retained its traditions. It offers a glimpse into the lives of the nuns who dedicated their lives here. Their stories echo in every corner.