The highlight of a visit to Arequipa is the Santa Catalina Monastery, one of the most impressive colonial religious buildings in Peru. The large convent is a ‘city within a city,’ covering over 20,246 square meters (218,000 square feet) and preserving the characteristics of 16th and 18th centuries, with narrow twisting streets, tidy plazas, colorful courtyards, and simple living quarters with Spanish names like Córdova, Sevilla, and Toledo. The delicate pastel colors of the buildings contrast with bright flowers, period furnishings, and religious art making it the picture-perfect place to explore some of the history of Arequipa. Aracari can arrange a visit to Santa Catalina Monastery as a part of a private, tailormade trip Peru. The History of Santa Catalina Monastery Santa Catalina Monastery was built in 1579, but only opened to the public in 1970 after 400 years as a nunnery. Visitors to the cloister can see the spacious patios, the kitchen, and slave quarters of this convent, where entrance requirements were among the strictest in Peru. Prospective nuns had to prove Spanish origin and come up with a dowry of at least 1,000 gold pesos to join the order. About four dozen nuns still live in the northern corner of the complex, which once housed up to 500 women. Contact us for a tailormade trip to Peru including a visit to Santa Catalina Monastery!   When the convent opened twenty years ago, its scandals came to light. Among them is the story of Sister Dominga, the 16-year-old who entered the convent when her betrothed left her for a rich widow. The religious life did not agree with this beautiful young woman, so she faked her own death to escape. Moreover, there was little heed paid to the nuns´ vows of poverty and silence behind closed doors in the early days. During its heyday, the sleeping cells were more like luxurious European