Visit to the convent of Santo Domingo

Places steeped in history

The Santo Domingo convent bears witness to 5 centuries of history. It was built in 1540 after Pizarro's conquest. Although renovated in the 20th century, it has withstood the many earthquakes that have hit Lima. It's an impressive building that plunges us into a history that is still with us today, as seen in Moorish architecture, for example, a cross between Iberian and North African influences.

It is here that the first saint of America, Santa Rosa de Lima, and San Martin de Porras, known for his closeness to the people and praised for his acts of charity, are laid to rest. There are several rooms to visit between the cloisters, including the chapter house, where you can admire its Baroque style, or the rooms dedicated to Santa Rosa de Lima or Santo Martin de Porrès, where you can pay your respects to the relics. You can also learn more about their lives in the company of a guide.

Visit the cloisters: architectural beauties

During your visit, you'll come across two cloisters. These places, historically reserved for monks, have a square shape that allows them to get closer to God, and the garden and fountain in the centre represent paradise. The main cloister is dazzling in its decoration and the architecture of its vaulted galleries.

The arcades are supported by columns decorated with azulejos, mosaics from Spain. From this cloister, you can also see the top of the church's pastel pink tower. The first cloister is simpler, but its orange walls add a warm atmosphere. There are also figures representing monks in everyday scenes.

An impressive library

This library is one of the most impressive in the world, with 25,000 books dating from different periods. You can read manuscripts dating from the 16th century and rarer ones written in Quechua, an ancestral Amerindian language, the second most widely spoken in Peru after Spanish. What strikes you as soon as you enter is the all-wooden architecture, which immediately plunges you into a distant past and gives the place a historic atmosphere. Inside (as in the cloister) are figures depicting scenes from the period with monks reading books.

⏰ Opening times: open every day except Monday from 9.30am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm.

👛 Price: around £1.70 per person

🚌 Getting there: to get there, you can go directly to Plaza Mayor by bus and continue for about 5 minutes on foot.

📍 Address: corner of Calle Irón Camaná 170 and Calle Jirón Conde de Superunda 262, Lima.

The Kamana Hotel is just 5 minutes from the historic centre. It is one of the best-placed hotels for visiting the Convent of Saint Dominic. The hotel offers comfortable and spacious rooms with two or three beds, ideal for families. There is a restaurant serving typical and international dishes.