I'm not the hugest fan of “photo essay” blog posts, but there are places that really deserve one. Santa Catalia Monastery in Arequipa is one such place.
I personally don't care much for religious history, so I didn't bother to find out much of how this place was used or why it was built (you can take a 1 hour guided tour for an extra fee, which I presume answers such questions), but I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the maze of streets, courtyards and passageways of this former monastery.
Visiting in the mid afternoon just before last entry affords the best light, with the red walls being set of fire by the setting sun. The views from the top of the monastery of Misti are also pretty spectacular at this time.
Below is just a teaser of the gorgeous colours and beautifully preserved architecture of the complex.
Practicalities
- Entrance is a reasonably steep S/35 (£8.20), but it's worth it!
- It's open every day from 9am to 5pm, with last entrance at 4pm
- The official website is here
- It's located at Santa Catalina 301, between Calle Ugarte and Puente Grau
