One of Arequipa's more famous landmarks is the Santa Catalina Convent

The convent was in existence for around 400 years. But the 450 nuns there lived in total seclusion until the 1970s. The nuns moved to a new smaller convent on the same site, and the original convent was opened to the public.

The nuns had almost no contact with the outside world. And inside the walls of the convent they created their own town. There are 6 cobbled streets, courtyards and cloisters with the nuns appartments, kitchens and chapels scattered throughout. This is a heraldic decoration on one of the walls.

The appartments, off streets like this one, usually had multiple rooms and a kitchen. Some of the more well to do nuns even had servants.

The whole area has been beautifully restored and has been painted in traditional blues, whites and brown. Its an almost surreal haven right within the city.

Amongst the cobbled streets are cloisters where you find more traditional reigious symbols like the three crucifixes here. The area behind the collonades is also decorated with religious murals depicting biblical and religious scenes.