Founded by the order of the Dominicans in 1580, the convent of Santa Catalina is the most evocative of the religious monuments of Arequipa.
The sisters lived in the monastery since its foundation until 1970, when a municipal decree forced them to move to another hotel and the convent was open to the public.
The monastery is almost a small city, you can wander for hours through large courtyards, cloisters adorned with fountains, a maze of rooms, chapels, cells, old kitchens and take a break on the roof to admire the surrounding volcanoes and snow-capped western Andes.
Pots of geraniums in terracotta and flourishing plants are arranged along the dazzling white walls, reflecting exciting play of light and dance of colors. The eyes are kidnapped by dazzling colors ranging from red volcanic, to the intense blue, the white alternate and they merge creating magical and surreal scenes.
I visited many Christian monasteries, both in Italy and during my travels in Europe and South America, and Saint Catalina is the most spectacular and exciting sacred place I've ever found.
In the deep and respectful silence of this place, I was lucky to do a magical encounter with a Korean bride.
