Arequipa is Peru's second largest city, although it has only
about a tenth of the population of the capital, Lima. The city was
founded in 1540 on a site chosen for its proximity to the coast,
which allowed settlers to trade easily with Lima, principally
selling products from Cusco and from the mines of Potosi (Bolivia).
The city lies in the shadow of three volcanoes; El Misti (5,822
metres or 19,101 feet), which is still active, the higher and
extinct Chachani (6,075 metres or 19.931 feet) and Pichu Pichu
(5,571 metres or 18.278 feet). The Incas highly respected these
volcanoes since the meltwater from their snow-capped peaks form the
headwaters of the mighty Amazon River.
The Monasterio de Santa Catalina in Arequipa is one of the
city's most impressive attractions, which was first opened to the
public in 1970 after spending 400 years as a cloister. The convent
has been beautifully refurbished with period furniture and
paintings. Behind the closed doors the nuns - daughters of
aristocrats - paid little heed to the vows of poverty and silence.
Each had her own servant and porcelain plates, fine tablecloths and
silver cutlery. The convent is a complete miniature walled colonial
town in the middle of the city. There are flower-filled gardens,
spacious patios, granite fountains as well as arches and narrow
streets. The tile-roofed buildings are painted in traditional
white, brown and blue. About 20 nuns still live in a section of the
convent, which was once home to as many as 500.
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