Description of the attraction
After many churches in the city were destroyed in 1600 due to the eruption of the Huaynaputina volcano, Bishop Antonio Raya set aside the site for the construction of the church and monastery of Santa Catalina (St. Catherine) in Cusco. Its first building was built in 1643. But after 7 years, an earthquake destroyed this temple. It was restored with changes in 1669.
The appearance of the temple contrasts somewhat with the decorative richness of the interior. The side walls of the temple are decorated with a number of wonderful canvases dedicated to the life of Saint Catherine of Siena, by the artist Juan Espinosa de los Monteros in 1669. A large painting, signed by Lorenzo Sánchez de Medina, depicting Dominican saints, including the recently canonized Holy Rose of Lima, dates back to the same period. In addition, the temple is decorated with a magnificent pulpit, carved from cedar, and four baroque golden altars - the work of local artisans from about the middle of the 17th century.
An important part of the monastery is the art museum, which is open to visitors. Here you can see the recently restored frescoes and part of the extensive monastery gallery, the exhibition of which is devoted to the life of nuns. In addition, you can see a variety of works of art illustrating the life and miracles of Saint Rosa of Lima, Saint Dominic de Guzman, a collection of nine vestments, richly embroidered with gold threads and precious stones. The exhibits presented in the museum belong to different periods from the 16th to the 20th century. The exposition of the museum was updated in 2008-2009.
Thirteen nuns currently live in the monastery of St. Catherine. Their cells are located in buildings behind the temple. Since colonial times, the nuns of the St. Catherine Monastery have been known for their skillful work, embroidered liturgical robes, beautiful linens with images of saints, and delicious cakes.
